BRAF fusion construct

A BRAF fusion construct is a laboratory-engineered genetic sequence designed to express a fusion protein consisting of a 5' partner gene and the 3' kinase domain of the BRAF proto-oncogene. These constructs are primarily used in preclinical research to characterize the oncogenic potential of BRAF gene fusions, which are identified in various malignancies including melanoma and papillary thyroid cancer. By removing the BRAF auto-inhibitory domain, these fusions result in the constitutive activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, leading to increased phosphorylation of MEK and ERK proteins and promoting tumor growth and proliferation. Research using these constructs has demonstrated that BRAF fusions may respond differently to standard MAPK pathway inhibitors compared to the common BRAF V600E mutation, highlighting their importance as distinct therapeutic targets and models for drug sensitivity testing.

Other names

BRAF fusionBRAF gene fusion