Abstract
Hepatocyte nuclear factor-6 (HNF-6) is a liver-enriched transcription factor that contains a single cut domain and a novel type of homeodomain. Here we have studied the developmental expression pattern of HNF-6 in the mouse. In situ hybridization experiments showed that HNF-6 mRNA is detected in the liver at embryonic day (E) 9, at the onset of liver differentiation. HNF-6 mRNA disappeared transiently from the liver between E12.5 and E15. In transfection experiments HNF-6 stimulated the expression of HNF-4 and of HNF-3 beta, two transcription factors known to be involved in liver development and differentiation. HNF-6 was detected in the pancreas from E10.5 onward, where it was restricted to the exocrine cells. HNF-6 was also detected in the developing nervous system. Both the brain and the spinal cord started to express HNF-6 at E9-9.5 in postmitotic neuroblasts. Later on, HNF-6 was restricted to brain nuclei, to the retina, to the ventral horn of the spinal cord, and to dorsal root ganglia. Our observations that HNF-6 contributes to the control of the expression of transcription factors and is expressed at early stages of liver, pancreas, and neuronal differentiation suggest that HNF-6 regulates several developmental programs.
Publication types
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
-
Animals
-
Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
-
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
-
Cell Differentiation / genetics
-
Central Nervous System / embryology*
-
Central Nervous System / metabolism
-
DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis
-
DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
-
Embryonic and Fetal Development / genetics
-
Endoderm / metabolism*
-
Eye Proteins / biosynthesis
-
Eye Proteins / genetics
-
Fetal Proteins / biosynthesis*
-
Fetal Proteins / genetics
-
Fibroblasts
-
Ganglia, Spinal / embryology
-
Ganglia, Spinal / metabolism
-
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
-
Gestational Age
-
Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-beta
-
Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4
-
Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 6
-
Homeodomain Proteins / biosynthesis*
-
Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
-
Humans
-
In Situ Hybridization
-
Liver / embryology*
-
Liver / metabolism
-
Liver Neoplasms / pathology
-
Mice
-
Mice, Inbred Strains
-
Nerve Tissue Proteins / biosynthesis*
-
Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
-
Nuclear Proteins / biosynthesis
-
Nuclear Proteins / genetics
-
Pancreas / embryology
-
Pancreas / metabolism
-
Phosphoproteins / biosynthesis
-
Phosphoproteins / genetics
-
Rats
-
Retina / embryology
-
Retina / metabolism
-
Trans-Activators / biosynthesis*
-
Trans-Activators / genetics
-
Transcription Factors / biosynthesis
-
Transcription Factors / genetics
-
Tumor Cells, Cultured
Substances
-
Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
-
DNA-Binding Proteins
-
Eye Proteins
-
FOXA2 protein, human
-
Fetal Proteins
-
Foxa2 protein, mouse
-
Foxa2 protein, rat
-
Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4
-
Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 6
-
Homeodomain Proteins
-
MLX protein, human
-
Nerve Tissue Proteins
-
Nuclear Proteins
-
ONECUT1 protein, human
-
Onecut1 protein, mouse
-
Onecut1 protein, rat
-
Phosphoproteins
-
Tcfl4 protein, mouse
-
Trans-Activators
-
Transcription Factors
-
Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-beta