Network-Based Analysis of Proteins Sensitive to BRAF Mutations

BRAF is a human gene encoding a B-Raf protein, which takes part in the regulation of signaling pathways that affect cell growth and division. BRAF mutations, the most common type of which is V600E, occur in approximately 8% of human malignant neoplasms. These mutations are of the most frequent occurrence in melanoma but are also found in tumors arising in the thyroid, lung, colon, and other sites. (V600E) BRAF stimulates signaling, induces proliferation, and promotes malignant cell transformation. This paper is devoted to the analysis of proteins whose expression was activated as a result of mutations in BRAF. The analysis revealed significant structural and network characteristics of such proteins in the protein-protein interaction networks. The obtained results can potentially be used to identify targets associated with the development of resistance to BRAF inhibition and build predictive models.