PREFERENTIAL INDUCTION OF C-FOS VERSUS C-JUN PROTOONCOGENE DURING THEIMMEDIATE-EARLY RESPONSE OF PIG SKIN TO GAMMA-RAYS

The involvement of the nuclear protooncogenes c-fos and c-jun in the i mmediate early response of pig dermis cells was studied after in vivo gamma-irradiation. Following high radiation doses (8 to 48 Gy), the tw o protooncogenes were concomitantly induced, although c-fos induction was preferential. Both inductions were time and dose dependent. Theref ore, the early response of the skin to high doses of radiation might i nvolve heterodimeric activator protein 1 composed of c-Fos and c-Jun p roteins. Following low radiation doses (0.5 to 2 Gy), c-jun was not in duced. By contrast, dramatic c-fos induction was observed after 0.5 Gy , suggesting a specific role for c-fos at low doses.