FB2026_01 , released March 12, 2026
FB2026_01 , released March 12, 2026
Human Disease Model Report: cancer, multiple, RAF1-related
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General Information
Name
cancer, multiple, RAF1-related
FlyBase ID
FBhh0000558
Disease Ontology Term
Parent Disease
OMIM
Overview

The RAF genes encode serine/threonine-protein kinases that act as links between the membrane-associated RAS GTPases and the MAPK/ERK cascade. The RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK pathway impacts proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and oncogenic transformation; as might be expected, many of the genes in the pathway are implicated in the development of cancer (see also FBhh0000474). This report describes a fly model that uses an activated form of the human RAF1 gene expressed in specific stem cells; in human, this gene is implicated in multiple diseases (see MIM:164760; FBhh0000131, FBhh0000132, FBhh0000156). There are two additional RAF genes in human, ARAF and BRAF. In Drosophila, there is a single orthologous gene, Dmel\Raf, for which classical amorphic and hypomorphic mutations, RNAi-targeting constructs, and alleles caused by insertional mutagenesis have been generated.

Multiple constructs of the human Hsap\RAF1 gene have been introduced into flies. Functional conservation between the human and fly genes has been demonstrated in fly several systems; for example, an activated form of the human gene has been shown to recapitulate phenotypes observed for an activated form of, or overexpression of, the fly gene. A UAS construct of a tagged human Hsap\BRAF gene has also been introduced into flies, but has not been characterized in the context of a cancer disease model.

A model of stem cell tumors utilizes the GAL4-UAS system to express an activated form of Hsap\RAF1 (amino truncation, resulting in constitutive kinase activity) in intestinal stem cells (ISCs). This model system has allowed efficient screening of chemotherapeutic agents and multi-drug combinations. See also the human disease model report 'cancer, intestinal stem cell models' (FBhh0000767).

A UAS construct of a constitutively activated form of Dmel\Raf (RafUAS.F179), driven by a glia-specific GAL4, has been to investigate glioma. Using a GAL4 driver expressed in intestinal stem cells to drive expression of the constitutively activated form of Dmel\Raf, it has been demonstrated that surrounding cells undergo apoptosis, and that these tumor-neighboring cells provide nutrients to sustain tumor growth.

Animals homozygous for amorphic mutations of Dmel\Raf exhibit lethality in the late larval stage; imaginal discs are undeveloped. Embryos lacking all Dmel\Raf activity (derived from homozygous null germline clones in the mother and not rescued by paternal contribution) die in early embryogenesis. Many genetic and physical interactions of Dmel\Raf have been described; see below and in the Raf gene report.

[updated Jun. 2021 by FlyBase; FBrf0222196]

Disease Summary Information
Disease Summary: cancer, multiple, RAF1-related
OMIM report
Human gene(s) implicated
Symptoms and phenotype
Genetics
Cellular phenotype and pathology
Molecular information

RAF1 encodes a MAP kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K), which functions downstream of the Ras family of membrane-associated GTPases, to which it binds directly. Once activated, the cellular RAF1 protein can phosphorylate to activate the dual-specificity protein kinases MEK1 and MEK2, which in turn phosphorylate to activate the serine/threonine specific protein kinases, ERK1 and ERK2. Activated ERKs are pleiotropic effectors of cell physiology and play an important role in the control of gene expression involved in the cell division cycle, apoptosis, cell differentiation and cell migration. [NCBI Gene, human RAF1; 2017.06.19]

RAF1 encodes a serine/threonine-protein kinase that acts as a regulatory link between the membrane-associated Ras GTPases and the MAPK/ERK cascade; this critical regulatory link functions as a switch determining cell fate decisions including proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, survival and oncogenic transformation. RAF1 activation initiates a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade that comprises a sequential phosphorylation of the dual-specific MAPK kinases (MAP2K1/MEK1 and MAP2K2/MEK2) and the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (MAPK3/ERK1 and MAPK1/ERK2). [from UniProt, P04049; 2017.06.19]

External links
Disease synonyms
cancer, multiple, RAF-related
Ortholog Information
Human gene(s) in FlyBase
Human gene (HGNC)
D. melanogaster ortholog (based on DIOPT)
Comments on ortholog(s)

Many to one: 3 human to 1 Drosophila. The three human genes are RAF1, BRAF, and ARAF.

Other mammalian ortholog(s) used
    D. melanogaster Gene Information (1)
    Gene Snapshot
    Raf oncogene (Raf) encodes a serine-threonine protein kinase that acts downstream of the product of Ras85D. It activates the MEK/ERK pathway to regulate cell proliferation, differentiation and survival downstream of receptor tyrosine kinases such as those encoded by tor, Egfr, and sev. [Date last reviewed: 2019-03-14]
    Cellular component (GO)
    Gene Groups / Pathways
    Comments on ortholog(s)

    High-scoring ortholog of human RAF1, BRAF, and ARAF (1 Drosophila to 3 human); Dmel\Raf shares 43-47% identity and 56-60% similarity with the human genes.

    Orthologs and Alignments from DRSC
    DIOPT - DRSC Integrative Ortholog Prediction Tool - Click the link below to search for orthologs in Humans
    Other Genes Used: Viral, Bacterial, Synthetic (0)
      Summary of Physical Interactions (90 groups)
      protein-protein
      Interacting group
      Assay
      References
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, western blot, pull down, anti tag western blot
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting, anti tag western blot
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      enzymatic study, autoradiography
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, western blot, two hybrid, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, peptide massfingerprinting, two hybrid
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting, anti tag western blot
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      two hybrid, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, two hybrid, pull down
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      Alleles Reported to Model Human Disease (Disease Ontology) (17 alleles)
      Models Based on Experimental Evidence ( 5 )
      Modifiers Based on Experimental Evidence ( 10 )
      Allele
      Disease
      Interaction
      References
      model of  cancer
      is ameliorated by slifUY681
      is ameliorated by Atg1HMS02750
      is exacerbated by Atg1016h
      is ameliorated by Atg16MI00187
      is ameliorated by Atg5HMS01244
      is ameliorated by Atg6HMS01483
      is ameliorated by BalatHMC06377
      is ameliorated by CarTHMC04919
      is ameliorated by CatUAS.cAa
      is ameliorated by bskHMS00777
      is ameliorated by bskK53R.UAS
      is ameliorated by slifHMC05846
      is ameliorated by sloJF02146
      is ameliorated by sloKO
      is exacerbated by sloUAS.cXa
      is ameliorated by sloHMC04093
      Models Based on Experimental Evidence ( 5 )
      Modifiers Based on Experimental Evidence ( 1 )
      Allele
      Disease
      Interaction
      References
      Alleles Representing Disease-Implicated Variants
      Genetic Tools, Stocks and Reagents
      Sources of Stocks
      Contact lab of origin for a reagent not available from a public stock center.
      Bloomington Stock Center Disease Page
      Related mammalian, viral, bacterial, or synthetic transgenes
      Allele
      Transgene
      Publicly Available Stocks
      Selected Drosophila transgenes
      Allele
      Transgene
      Publicly Available Stocks
      RNAi constructs available
      Allele
      Transgene
      Publicly Available Stocks
      Selected Drosophila classical alleles
      Allele
      Allele class
      Mutagen
      Publicly Available Stocks
      loss of function allele
      ethyl methanesulfonate
      amorphic allele - genetic evidence
      nitrosomethyl urea
      loss of function allele
      amorphic allele - genetic evidence
      X ray
      amorphic allele - genetic evidence
      1,2-dichloroethane
      amorphic allele - genetic evidence
      spontaneous
      amorphic allele - genetic evidence
      ethyl methanesulfonate
      loss of function allele
      ethyl methanesulfonate
      hycanthon methanesulfonate
      amorphic allele - genetic evidence
      ethyl methanesulfonate
      amorphic allele - genetic evidence
      ethyl methanesulfonate
      amorphic allele - genetic evidence
      X ray
      amorphic allele - genetic evidence
      ethyl methanesulfonate
      References (22)