An overview of the potent role of proto-oncogenes in tissue-specific stem cells

Proto-oncogenes are cellular genes involved in a cell’s normal functioning, varying from general metabolism, gene expression, cell-to-cell adherence, cell signaling, cell cycle, maintaining cell division, cell growth, and senescence, including cell death. Having an essential role in cell growth and survival, these genes also determine the cell fate of stem cells. Although the role of proto-oncogenes in embryogenesis and postnatal development has been studied for decades, it accounts only for the periphery, with a significant part still yet to unfold. This chapter focuses on the functions of proto-oncogenes’ various processes like cell survival, renewal, proliferation, stemness, dormancy, and differentiation of adult and cancer stem cells.