HNF-1, HNF-3, HNF-4 and HNF-6 compose, in part, a homoeprotein family designated the Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor family.The protein encoded by HNF-4α gene is a nuclear transcription factor which binds DNA as a homodimer. It controls the expression of several genes, including hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 alpha, a transcription factor which regulates the expression of several hepatic genes. HNF-4α and HNF-4γ have been shown to be important for early embryo development. HNF-4α is expressed in liver, kidney, pancreas, small intestine, testis and colon; HNF-4γ is expressed in each of these tissues except liver. Alternative splicing of HNF-4αgene results in multiple transcript variants encoding several different isoforms.
