The R-Ras protein has been shown to interact with the Bcl-2 gene product involved in a signaling pathway that intervenes with apoptosis. Positions 38 and 87 (analogous to positions 12 and 61 in H-Ras) mutants of R-Ras have been shown to be capable of activating oncogenic function. Data has been obtained indicating that R-Ras may exert its biological effect by means of modulating the activity of the Raf-1 kinase on its direct downstream effectors.