c-fos protooncogene expression and neuronal plasticity.
Protooncogene c-fos is a nuclear protein repeatedly implicated in regulation of gene expression. The elevated expression of the c-fos protooncogene in neurons has been observed in many instances of neuronal activation both in vitro and in vivo. The increase of c-fos mRNA and/or protein levels has been shown to result from the action of neurotransmitters on membrane receptors and seems to be induced by physiological stimuli. We suggest that the elevated expression of c-fos protooncogene couples stimulation of the neurons by extracellular ligands with intracellular long term effector responses including long lasting memory formation.
Kaczmarek
L
L
Department of Neurophysiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland.
Nikołajew
E
E
D000818:Animals; D015870:Gene Expression; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000235:genetics*; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes
D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases