Regulatory mechanisms of brain function by alternative splicing products of fosB gene

Under various brain stress，expression of fosB gene which encodes subunits of AP-1 transcription factor is highly induced in the hippocampus of mouse brain.The fosB gene produces two mature mRNAs(fosB and·fosB)by alternative splicing，and whose products differentially regulate the response to various brain stress.Our analyses of fosB-null mice and mutant mice which produce only one of the two mRNAs revealed that both of the two fosB mRNA products play distinct roles in control of the adult neurogenesis in hippocampal dentate gyrus through regulating expression of various genes，and thus suppressing epilepsy and depressive behavior.

Under various brain stress, expression of fosB gene which encodes subunits of AP-1 transcription factor is highly induced in the hippocampus of mouse brain. The fosB gene produces two mature mRNAs (fosB and ・fosB) by alternative splicing, and whose products differentially regulate the response to various brain stress. Our analyses of fosB-null mice and mutant mice which produce only one of the two mRNAs revealed that both of the two fosB mRNA products play distinct roles in control of the adult neurogenesis in hippocampal dentate gyrus through regulating expression of various genes, and thus suppressing epilepsy and depressive behavior.