Question

Oncogenes cause cancer because of the production of
a. Structural protein
b. Mutant protein
c. Fibrillar protein
d. None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Proto-oncogenes are genes that normally help cells grow. When a proto-oncogene mutates or there are several copies of it, it becomes permanently turned on or activated when it is not supposed to be. When the activation of proto-oncogenes happens, the cell grows out of control. This further leads to cancer. This gene is called an oncogene.

Complete answer:
Proto-oncogenes are a group of genes when undergoing mutation, they cause normal cells to become cancerous.
Mutations are typically dominant in nature in proto-oncogenes, and after the mutation of a proto-oncogene, it is called an oncogene.
Often, proto-oncogenes encode proteins. These function to stimulate cell division, inhibit cell differentiation, and halt cell death. For normal human development and the maintenance of tissues and organs, all of these processes are important. Oncogenes typically exhibit increased production of these proteins. This leads to increased cell division, decreased cell differentiation, and inhibition of cell death; these phenotypes define cancer cells. Thus, oncogenes for anti-cancer drug design are currently a major molecular target.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Additional information:
Structural proteins - in nature, they are the most abundant class of proteins. Collagen is recognized as the most abundant protein in mammals. Structural proteins such as collagen, fibronectin, and laminin are utilized as attachment factors in cell culture applications.
Fibrillar protein- The principal structural proteins of the body which is an insoluble protein (e.g., collagens, elastins, keratins, actin, and myosin).

Note: When a mutation occurs in cells, these cells grow uncontrollably and they are referred to as the oncogenes. The proto-oncogenes encode proteins that are associated with different functions such as cell division, inhibit cell differentiation, and stop cell death, which keeps the cell growing. Oncogenes cause an increase in protein concentration and help the cell grow in an uncontrolled fashion.