Overview:

c-KITisaproto-oncogeneandatype3transmembranereceptorforMGF(mastcellgrowthfactor,alsoknownasstemcellfactor).c-KITwasfirstidentifiedasthecellularhomologofthefelinesarcomaviraloncogenev-kit.c-KITtogetherwithitsligandregulatesgrowthandactivationofavarietyofhemopoieticandnon-hemopoieticcells.Mutationsinc-KITareassociatedwithgastrointestinalstromaltumors,mastcelldisease,acutemyelogenouslukemia,andpiebaldism.Recently,deregulationoftheKITreceptorTKbytheprevalentactivationloopmutationD816Vhasservedasafocalpointintherapeuticstrategiesaimedatcurbingneoplasticmastcellgrowth(2).

GeneAliases:

PBT,SCFR,CD117

GenbankNumber:

NM_000222

References:

1.Berger,SA.:SignalingpathwaysinfluencingSLFandc-kit-mediatedsurvivalandproliferation.ImmunolRes.2006;35(1-2):1-12.2.Gotlib,J.:KITmutationsinmastocytosisandtheirpotentialastherapeutictargets.ImmunolAllergyClinNorthAm.2006Aug;26(3):575-92.