Induction of c-fos and c-jun mRNA at the M/G1 border is required for cell cycle progression

The proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-jun have been shown in numerous model systems to be induced within minutes of growth factor stimulation, during the G0/G1 transition. In this report we use the mitotic shake-off procedure to generate a population of highly synchronized Swiss 3T3 cells. We show that both of these immediate-early, competence genes are also induced during the M/G1 transition, immediately after completion of mitosis. While c-fos mRNA levels drop to undetectable levels within 2 hr after division, c-jun mRNA levels are maintained at a basal level which is approximately 30% maximum throughout the remainder of G1. In order to access the functional significance of these patterns of c-fos and c-jun expression, antisense oligodeoxynucleotides specific to c-fos or c-jun were added to either actively growing Swiss 3T3 cells or mitotically synchronized cells, and their ability to inhibit DNA synthesis and cell division determined. Our results show that treatment of Swiss 3T3 cells with either c-fos or c-jun antisense oligodeoxynucleotides, while actively growing, during mitosis, or in early G1, results in a reduction in ability to enter S and subsequently divide. This was also true if Swiss 3T3 cells were treated during mid-G1 with c-jun antisense oligodeoxynucleotides. These results demonstrate that the regulation of G1 progression following mitosis is dependent upon the expression and function of the immediate-early, competence proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-jun.