c-Fos Protein

c-Fos Protein

Overview

<table class="infobox infobox-protein">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">c-Fos Protein</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Gene</td>
<td>FOS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">UniProt</td>
<td>P01100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Molecular Weight</td>
<td>~62 kDa (380 amino acids)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Subcellular Localization</td>
<td>Nucleus</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Expression</td>
<td>Induced in neurons by activity, stress</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Associated Diseases</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/als" style="color:#ef9a9a">Als</a>, <a href="/wiki/alzheimer" style="color:#ef9a9a">Alzheimer</a>, <a href="/wiki/inflammation" style="color:#ef9a9a">Inflammation</a>, <a href="/wiki/ms" style="color:#ef9a9a">Ms</a>, <a href="/wiki/neurodegeneration" style="color:#ef9a9a">Neurodegeneration</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">KG Connections</td>
<td><a href="/atlas" style="color:#4fc3f7">34 edges</a></td>
</tr>
</table>

c-Fos Protein is a protein that 1. Immediate Early Gene: Rapidly transcribed (minutes) in response to neuronal activity. This page describes its structure, normal nervous system function, role in neurodegenerative disease, and potential as a therapeutic target.

c-Fos Protein

Overview

<table class="infobox infobox-protein">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">c-Fos Protein</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Gene</td>
<td>FOS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">UniProt</td>
<td>P01100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Molecular Weight</td>
<td>~62 kDa (380 amino acids)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Subcellular Localization</td>
<td>Nucleus</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Expression</td>
<td>Induced in neurons by activity, stress</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Associated Diseases</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/als" style="color:#ef9a9a">Als</a>, <a href="/wiki/alzheimer" style="color:#ef9a9a">Alzheimer</a>, <a href="/wiki/inflammation" style="color:#ef9a9a">Inflammation</a>, <a href="/wiki/ms" style="color:#ef9a9a">Ms</a>, <a href="/wiki/neurodegeneration" style="color:#ef9a9a">Neurodegeneration</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">KG Connections</td>
<td><a href="/atlas" style="color:#4fc3f7">34 edges</a></td>
</tr>
</table>

c-Fos Protein is a protein that 1. Immediate Early Gene: Rapidly transcribed (minutes) in response to neuronal activity. This page describes its structure, normal nervous system function, role in neurodegenerative disease, and potential as a therapeutic target.

c-Fos (FBJ murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homolog) is an immediate early gene (IEG) that encodes a transcription factor. It is rapidly induced in [neurons](/entities/neurons) in response to synaptic activity and is widely used as a marker for neuronal activation. It plays complex roles in neuroprotection, neurodegeneration, and neural plasticity.

Structure

c-Fos is a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor.

Normal Function

Role in Neurodegeneration

Parkinson's Disease

• 6-OHDA Model: c-Fos induced in dopaminergic neurons after lesion
• MPTP Model: Rapid c-Fos expression in substantia nigra
• Neuroprotection: c-Fos may mediate protective responses to toxins

Alzheimer's Disease

• [Amyloid-Beta](/proteins/amyloid-beta): Aβ induces c-Fos expression
• [Tau](/proteins/tau) Pathology: Neurofibrillary tangles associated with altered c-Fos
• Neuronal Activity: Abnormal c-Fos responses in AD models

Stroke and Brain Injury

• Ischemic Preconditioning: c-Fos involved in protective responses
• Glutamate Excitotoxicity: c-Fos induced by excessive stimulation
• Traumatic Brain Injury: Immediate c-Fos surge in injured brain

Therapeutic Targeting

Target Opportunities

• AP-1 Modulation: Modulating AP-1 (c-Fos/c-Jun) transcriptional activity
• IEG Regulation: Targeting upstream signaling (MAPK pathways)
• Neuroprotection: Enhancing c-Fos-mediated protective responses

Research Applications

c-Fos is widely used as a functional mapping marker:

• Fos Immunohistochemistry: Maps activated brain regions
• Fos-CreERT2 Systems: Activity-dependent genetic labeling
• Fos-GFP Reporters: Live neuronal activity monitoring

Key Publications

[@herdegen1998]: Herdegen T, Leah JD. [Inducible and constitutive transcription factors in the mammalian nervous system: control of gene expression by Jun, Fos and Krox, and CREB/ATF](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9584264/). Trends Neurosci. 1998;21(8):347-355.

[@hughes1999]: Hughes PE, Alexi T, Walton M, et al. [Activity and injury-dependent expression of inducible transcription factors and growth factor proteins](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10632657/). Prog Neurobiol. 1999;59(4):427-468.

[@zhang2002]: Zhang J, Zhang D, McQuade JS, et al. [c-Fos regulates neuronal excitability and survival](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11920545/). Nat Genet. 2002;30(4):416-420.

See Also

• [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)
• [Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease)

External Links

• [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/)
• [KEGG Pathways](https://www.genome.jp/kegg/pathway.html)

[@zhang2002]: [Reference missing - citation needed]

References