Abstract
Variation in mRNA processing has the capacity to exert fine control over gene expression in most cell types. The hepatic nuclear factor genes, like approximately 74% of the genome, produce multiple transcripts. Hepatic nuclear factor isoforms exhibit both spatial and temporal variation in expression. In this review, the known isoforms of the hepatocyte nuclear factor-1α, hepatocyte nuclear factor-1β and hepatocyte nuclear factor-4α genes are described and their properties are compared. Finally, data are discussed regarding the influence of hepatocyte nuclear factor-1α alternate mRNA processing on the clinical phenotype of maturity-onset diabetes of the young.
Acknowledgements
I would like to acknowledge my colleagues Professor Andrew Hattersley, Professor Sian Ellard, Emma Edghill, Dr Jayne Minton and Sarah Flanagan for helpful discussion and critical comments on this manuscript. I am also grateful to the Peninsula Medical School (Exeter, UK) for supporting my research and the RCUK and Diabetes UK for funding my studies.