RAS Reference Reagents
RAS Initiative researchers have developed unique reagents at the FNLCR. We hope that by widely distributing these to the larger RAS community, we can increase the efficiency of all research on RAS.
For further information on RAS Reference Reagents, contact Dominic Esposito.
Complete Set of RAS Pathway Genes
A community conversation highlighted 180 genes considered to comprise the core of the RAS pathway. Now the RAS Reference Reagents program has used data from The Cancer Genome Atlas to construct entry clones of each gene representing the dominant transcript across more than 30 human cancers. All 180 genes (both stop and no-stop versions) are available through Addgene.
Reagents for Producing Fully-Processed KRAS 4B Protein
FNL scientists recently published a description of the cloning, expression, and characterization of fully-processed (farnesylated, carboxymethylated) KRAS 4b protein. Both the baculovirus (expresses KRAS 4b and the human farnesyltransferase) and the baculovirus host strain (Hi5, Trichoplusia ni) used in the FNL procedure are available under a Material Transfer Agreement.
Contact Dominic Esposito for further information.
Wild-Type and Mutant KRAS, HRAS, and NRAS Genes
A collection of 60 wild-type and mutant RAS genes as Gateway entry clones is now available through Addgene. The collection comprises wild-type HRAS, NRAS, KRAS4a and KRAS4b genes, and mutant KRAS4b (N=36), KRAS4a (N=6), HRAS (N=7) and NRAS (N=7) genes. All the clones are fully sequenced and have the same context to enable optimal correlation of phenotype with genotype.
RAS Cell Lines
Ras Initiative scientists have extensively characterized the “RASless” mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) which are RAS cell lines created at the Frederick National Laboratory using the exquisite system developed originally by Professor Mariano Barbacid. In addition, Ras Initiative scientists have worked extensively with patient-derived cancer cell lines, available commercially, that express mutant KRAS genes.