Overview:

Src family belongs to non-receptor tyrosine kinases. Src was originally identified as a transforming protein of the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) that had enzymatic ability to phosphorylate tyrosine in protein substrates (1). Src is overexpressed and activated in a large number of human malignancies and has been linked to the development of cancer and progression to distant metastases (2). In addition to increasing cell proliferation, a key role of Src in cancer seems to be the ability to promote invasion and motility, functions that might contribute to tumour progression.

References:

1. Collett, M S. et al: Protein kinase activity associated with the avian sarcoma virus src gene product. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1978 Apr;75(4):2021-4.2. Jacobs, C. et al: Expression of pp60c-src protein kinase in adult and fetal human tissue: high activities in some sarcomas and mammary carcinomas. Cancer Res. 1983 Apr;43(4):1696-702.