Immediate Early Genes

Immediate early genes (IEGs) are a type of gene that are rapidly and transiently activated in response to a variety of cellular stresses or stimulants. They are activated within minutes after the initiating signal, ahead of other primary response genes or structural proteins. The IEGs have a wide variety of roles, including in cell cycle regulation, apoptotic response, signal transduction, differentiation and memory. They are also essential for normal neuronal function, playing a major role in neuronal plasticity and the formation of individual neuronal connections (synapses). IEGs provide a fundamental tool for the characterization of cellular responses to different contexts and provide an indication of the activating signals and their consequences on the identified pathways.