title: Expression of HNF4alpha isoforms in mouse liver development is regulated by sequential promoter usage and constitutive 3' end splicing.
abstract: Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha (HNF4alpha) is essential for the establishment and maintenance of liver-specific gene expression. The HNF4alpha gene codes for several isoforms whose developmental and physiological relevance has not yet been explored. HNF4alpha1 and HNF4alpha7 originate from different promoters, while alternative splicing in 3' leads to HNF4alpha2 and HNF4alpha8, respectively. HNF4alpha7/alpha8 were abundantly expressed in embryonic liver and fetal-like hepatoma cells. HNF4alpha1/alpha2 transcripts were up-regulated at birth and represented the only isoforms in adult-like hepatoma cells. In line with its expression profile, HNF4alpha7 activated more avidly than HNF4alpha1 reporter plasmids for genes that are expressed early. The expression patterns of both isoforms together with the differences observed in their transcriptional activities provide elements accounting for fine-tuning of the activity of HNF4alpha. The sequential expression of HNF4alpha7/alpha8 and HNF4alpha1/alpha2 during mouse liver development is the only modification in liver-enriched transcription factors thus far recorded, which parallels the transition from the fetal to the adult hepatic phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Génétique de la Différenciation, FRE 2364 du CNRS, Département de Biologie Moléculaire, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Torres-Padilla
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fougère-Deschatrette
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D051778:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D019281:Dimerization; D005091:Exons; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D051557:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010641:Phenotype; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012326:RNA Splicing; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D051778:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051557:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4; C496593:Hnf4a protein, mouse; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C501970:Tcfl4 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors