Transcriptional regulation of the H-ras1 proto- oncogene by DNA binding proteins: mechanisms and implications in human tumorigenesis

Altered expression of ras genes is a common event in human tumors. Transcriptional regulation of the H-ras1 proto-oncogene occurs through nuclear factors that recognize elements in the promoter region of the gene, in the f irst and fourth intron and in the VTR unit and involves al ternative spl ic ing and specif ic methylat ion patterns, as wel l . Aberrant levels of the Ras p21 protein are detected in a variety of human tumors and are often correlated with clinical and prognostic parameters. Thus, understanding the regulation of the expression of ras genes provides a useful target for gene therapy treatments.