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.