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Protooncogenes
Protooncogenes are genes that code for proteins responsible for proliferation. Mutations in protooncogenes can lead to an increase in protein expression, hyperactivity (i.e. gain-of-function ) and/or loss of regulation. This mutated form is called oncogene. Protooncogenes can encode a wide variety of proteins with multiple functions (e.g cell differentiation genes, signaling molecules, surface receptors, cell cycle regulatory genes, secreted growth factors). Currently, about 40 genes are known to be protooncogenes.