RAF, a member of the Raf Subfamily of Serine/Threonine Protein Kinases, is part of the RAS-dependent signalling pathway. Once activated, Raf-1 can activate the dual specificity protein kinases MEK1 and MEK2 which in turn 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. t(3;8)(p25;q21) translocations involving RAF1 result in mixed parotid gland tumors. Raf1 is an ocogene that has been reported to be overexpressed in many tumor types.
					
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