The 14-3-3 protein family comprises critical regulatory molecules involved in signaling during cell division, proliferation, and apoptosis. Despite extensive study, the functions of the 14-3-3 proteins in brain remain unclear. 14-3-3γ, a subtype of the 14-3-3 family of proteins, was thought to be brain-and neuron-specific. Using RNA arbitrarily primed PCR, we identified an upregulated cDNA fragment of the 14-3-3γ gene in primary cultures of astrocytes. Using Northern blot analysis, we confirmed this fragment was brain-specific. In cultures of astrocytes, 14-3-3γgenes and proteins were differentially expressed at different ages and the proteins were distributed only in the cytoplasm. These results indicated that 14-3-3 was not neuron-specific but also expressed in astrocytes. The function of this protein in brain is unclear. Northern and Western blot analyses demonstrated that 14-3-3γmRNA and protein were upregulated in cultured astrocytes in an anaerobic chamber-induced ischemia model. The induction of 14-3-3γproteins was neither suppressed by an MAP kinase inhibitor (U0126) nor a PI-3 kinase inhibitor (LY294002). These data indicated that induction of 14-3-3γmight not involve PI-3 and MAP kinase-dependent pathways. Using coimmunoprecipitation, we demonstrated that endogenous 14-3-3γbound to c-Raf-1 and p-Raf 259. As Raf is one of the critical serine/threonine kinases controlling cell growth, differentiation, and death, the binding of 14-3-3γto Raf indicates the critical role of this protein in ischemiainduced apoptosis and the changes in signal transduction in astrocytes in culture. GLIA 42: 315-324, 2003.