Does an oncogene code for an onco-protein?

The common "expression" of a gene is a protein. If an oncogene is a mutation of a normal gene, does it result in the expression of an onco-protein? What is the protein?

[cesanon]

Biological systems are complex. It can be anything. And sometimes it is something that just effects the activity of other genes.

[AlanMeyer]

As I understand it, the answer is that there are a great many proteins involved in cell division. Some initiate processes that result in cell division, some retard or stop those processes. In addition, there are many proteins involved in "apoptosis" or "programmed cell death", i.e., cell suicide as opposed to cell death caused by an external cause. Proteins that interfere with apoptosis, if disabled, can also result in cancer.

For a list of specific genes and proteins, see the Wikipedia article on "oncogenes". That article lists categories of proteins. Each of the categories may have multiple families, each of which in turn may have quite a few variant examples. I think that genes and protein products usually have the same name but with different capitalization, e.g., SRC (a gene) and Src (a protein), WNT/Wnt, and so on.

It is my understanding that there isn't just one protein involved, there are hundreds, perhaps thousands. I don't think that we know what all of them are or how all of them work, though we ("we" meaning our scientists) do know an amazing amount and the knowledge keeps expanding.

Alan

[Hidden]

The idea that captured my attention is that people LOVE to talk about oncogenes, but this HAS TO MEAN (doesn't it) that this gene, when expressed, results in a deviant protein. Where is the word for this deformed protein - the "oncoprotein" - the real actor on the scene, not hidden away in the DNA? Why the silence?

I think it is because we need an handy enemy to blame and oncogene is that scary monster. No further discussion needed - it is your oncogenes that are killing you! Boo!