Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4 Alpha (HNF4a)

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha is a nuclear transcription factor which binds DNA as a homodimer. The encoded protein controls the expression of several genes, including hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 alpha, a transcription factor which regulates the expression of several hepatic genes. The extinction of many hepatic functions and their reexpression are correlated with the extinction and expression of hepatocyte nuclear factor-4 (HNF4).

This gene plays a role in development of the liver, kidney, and intestines. Mutations in this gene have been associated with monogenic autosomal dominant non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus type I. Alternative splicing of this gene results in multiple transcript variants.HNF4A is required for the PXR and CAR-mediated transcriptional activation of CYP3A4.