Liver transcription factors HNF1 and HNF4 - structure, function and interrelationship

Informazioni relative al progetto

ID dell’accordo di sovvenzione: BIO2930103

Progetto chiuso

Data di avvio 1 Agosto 1993

Data di completamento 30 Settembre 1997

Finanziato da

• Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of biotechnology, 1990-1994

Costo totale € 0,00

Contributo UE € 840 000,00

Coordinato da

THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
United Kingdom

Exploitable results

The hepatic nuclear factors 1 and 4

A study is being made of the hepatic nuclear factors 1 and 4 (HNF1 and HNF4). These are both liver enriched transcription factors which activate the transcription of a large number of liver expressed genes, such as albumin, alpha-antitrypsin, apolipoprotein A1, alpha- and beta-fibrinogen and clotting factor IX by binding to a specific deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) site in the promoter/enhancer of their respective genes. The most significant result to emerge, concerns the 'knock-out' of the HNF1 gene in mice, showing that the gene was essential for postnatal, but not prenatal, development. The cause of death cannot be ascertained precisely, but it is clear that phenylalanine hydroxylase is inactive. This should lead to new lines of enquiry, and hopefully a further understanding of the regulation of the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene in liver.