Forkhead Box Protein A1 (FOXA1)

FOXA1 encodes a member of the forkhead class of DNA-binding proteins. These hepatocyte nuclear factors are transcriptional activators for liver-specific transcripts such as albumin and transthyretin, and they also interact with chromatin. Similar family members in mice have roles in the regulation of metabolism and in the differentiation of the pancreas and liver.

The genes encode polypeptides of 468, 459, and 354 amino acids, respectively. Both HNF3A and HNF3B are expressed in tissues of endodermal origin, i.e., stomach, intestines, liver, and lung, while HNF3G is more extensively expressed, being present additionally in ovary, testis, heart, and adipose tissue, but missing from lung.