Final answer:
An oncogene product with a high number of proline residues likely uses these to increase the stability of the protein, contributing to uncontrolled cell growth characteristic of cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the role of proline residues in an oncogene product. Proline-rich regions can impact the structure and function of the oncogene product. The unusually high number of proline residues is likely to influence the structural conformation of the protein, leading to increased stability of the protein. This stability can contribute to the persistent activation of the oncogene product, which is characteristic of many cancerous cells.
Oncogenes, which are mutated forms of proto-oncogenes, drive uncontrolled cell growth. An example is the Myc protein, an oncogene product that, when overexpressed, causes Burkitt's Lymphoma by transforming normal B cells into rapidly proliferating cancer cells. These mutated genes are dominant alleles, meaning their function or overactive state is dominant over the normal allele, leading to cancer.