Polyomavirus (Py) DNA replication is regulated by its enhancer, which contains an AP1 site, c-Jun and c-Fos, the products of nuclear protooncogenes c-jun and c-fos, form the heterodimeric transcriptional activating factor AP1. Overexpression of c-fos and c-jun genes strongly stimulated Py DNA replication from the Py origin of replication as well as transcription from the Py early promoter through the AP1 binding site. The cAMP response element (CRE)-binding protein CREB stimulated only transcription, not DNA replication, through the CRE under similar conditions. The results indicate that AP1 functions as a regulator of DNA replication and that the mechanism of activation of Py DNA replication by AP1 is distinct from that of activation of transcription from the Py early promoter.