FOS

WKP

c-Fos is a proto-oncogene that is the human homolog of the retroviral oncogene v-fos.

It was first discovered in rat fibroblasts as the transforming gene of the FBJ MSV (Finkel–Biskis–Jinkins murine osteogenic sarcoma virus). It is a part of a bigger Fos family of transcription factors which includes c-Fos, FosB, Fra-1 and Fra-2.

It has been mapped to chromosome region 14q21→q31. C-fos encodes a 62 kDa protein, which forms heterodimer with c-jun (part of Jun family of transcription factors), resulting in the formation of AP-1 (Activator Protein-1) complex.

AP-1 complex binds DNA at AP-1 specific sites at the promoter and enhancer regions of target genes and converts extracellular signals into changes of gene expression. It plays an important role in many cellular functions and has been found to be overexpressed in a variety of cancers.

Pathology

 FOS is overexpressed in a variety of cancers.

 Frequent FOS Gene Rearrangements in epithelioid hemangioma (26135557)

Open references

 Frequent FOS Gene Rearrangements in Epithelioid Hemangioma: A Molecular Study of 58 Cases With Morphologic Reappraisal. Huang SC, Zhang L, Sung YS, Chen CL, Krausz T, Dickson BC, Kao YC, Agaram NP, Fletcher CD, Antonescu CR.
Am J Surg Pathol. 2015 Oct;39(10):1313-21. doi : 10.1097/PAS.0000000000000469 PMID: 26135557 Free