Raf kinase is a key regulator of mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) signaling and plays an important role in neural development. Neuronal axonal growth stimulated by nerve growth factor(NGF) is mediated by the Raf-MEK-ERK pathway, and overexpression of active Ras or C-Raf is embryo-fatal in Braf- and RAF1-free mice.
