title: Hepatic nuclear factor 1 alpha (HNF-1 alpha) is expressed in the oviduct of hens and interacts with regulatory elements of the lysozyme gene.
abstract: HNF-1 alpha is a nuclear transcriptional regulatory protein required for the expression of a variety of liver-specific genes. This factor was previously considered liver-specific but later shown to be expressed also in a few other mammalian tissues. Here we report on the occurrence of HNF-1 alpha in the avian oviduct. This finding is of particular interest because HNF-1 alpha is not expressed in female reproductive organs of mammals. The avian oviduct is the site of assembly for the avian egg and the site of tissue-specific synthesis of the major egg white proteins, such as lysozyme. We also demonstrate that the chicken lysozyme gene contains HNF-1 recognition sites within two of its important upstream regulatory elements. The presence of HNF-1 recognition elements in functionally significant regulatory sites of the lysozyme gene and high levels of HNF-1 alpha in the oviduct is a strong indication for the involvement of HNF-1 alpha in the control of the lysozyme gene and possibly other egg white protein genes in the chicken oviduct. Apparently, HNF-1 alpha performs functions in the avian oviduct that were lost upon development from birds to mammals.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Physikalische Biochemie und Zellbiologie, Universität München.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Grajer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hörlein
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Igo-Kemenes
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002645:Chickens; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D005809:Genes, Regulator / Q000235:genetics*; D051537:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1; D051538:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha; D051539:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-beta; D015151:Immunoblotting; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009113:Muramidase / Q000235:genetics*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010057:Oviducts / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004527:Egg Proteins; D051538:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha; C496489:Hnf1a protein, rat; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D009841:Oligonucleotides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051537:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1; D051539:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-beta; D012313:RNA; D009113:Muramidase