Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Cell Specific Gene Expression01:58

Cell Specific Gene Expression

Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Motion analysis for objective evaluation of psychomotor skills in Endoscopic Sinus Surgery.

Rhinology·2024
Same author

Measurement and comparison of individual external doses of high-school students living in Japan, France, Poland and Belarus-the 'D-shuttle' project.

Journal of radiological protection : official journal of the Society for Radiological Protection·2015
Same author

Copy number variations in the amylase gene (AMY2B) in Japanese native dog breeds.

Animal genetics·2015
Same author

One-year follow-up of transgene expression by integrase-defective lentiviral vectors and their therapeutic potential in spinocerebellar ataxia model mice.

Gene therapy·2014
Same author

Link between inflammation and aquaporin-5 distribution in submandibular gland in Sjögren's syndrome?

Oral diseases·2012
Same author

Beneficial effects of leukotriene receptor antagonists in the prevention of cedar pollinosis in a community setting.

Journal of investigational allergology & clinical immunology·2009

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Hepatocyte-specific Ablation in Zebrafish to Study Biliary-driven Liver Regeneration
08:14

Hepatocyte-specific Ablation in Zebrafish to Study Biliary-driven Liver Regeneration

Published on: May 20, 2015

Expression of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha in developing mice.

T Kanazawa1, A Konno, Y Hashimoto

  • 1Laboratory of Anatomy, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. tomkana@vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp

Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia
|September 23, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha (HNF4alpha) is expressed in adult mouse kidneys, specifically in proximal tubules. Its expression in developing kidneys begins early and becomes restricted to proximal tubules, suggesting a key role in kidney development.

More Related Videos

Hepatic Progenitor Specification from Pluripotent Stem Cells using a Defined Differentiation System
07:09

Hepatic Progenitor Specification from Pluripotent Stem Cells using a Defined Differentiation System

Published on: May 10, 2020

Cell Type-specific Gene Expression Profiling in the Mouse Liver
10:06

Cell Type-specific Gene Expression Profiling in the Mouse Liver

Published on: September 17, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Hepatocyte-specific Ablation in Zebrafish to Study Biliary-driven Liver Regeneration
08:14

Hepatocyte-specific Ablation in Zebrafish to Study Biliary-driven Liver Regeneration

Published on: May 20, 2015

Hepatic Progenitor Specification from Pluripotent Stem Cells using a Defined Differentiation System
07:09

Hepatic Progenitor Specification from Pluripotent Stem Cells using a Defined Differentiation System

Published on: May 10, 2020

Cell Type-specific Gene Expression Profiling in the Mouse Liver
10:06

Cell Type-specific Gene Expression Profiling in the Mouse Liver

Published on: September 17, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha (HNF4alpha) is a crucial transcription factor belonging to the nuclear hormone receptor family.
  • HNF4alpha exhibits diverse isoforms due to alternative promoter usage (P1 and P2) in mice.
  • Its expression is typically observed in endoderm-derived epithelial tissues, including hepatocytes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression patterns of HNF4alpha in adult and embryonic mouse tissues.
  • To specifically examine the role and localization of HNF4alpha during metanephros development.
  • To analyze the promoter usage (P1 and P2) for Hnf4alpha transcription in different tissues and developmental stages.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect HNF4alpha protein localization in tissue sections.
  • Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to identify Hnf4alpha transcripts derived from P1 and/or P2 promoters.
  • Co-expression analysis with HNF1alpha was performed using immunohistochemistry.

Main Results:

  • In adult mice, HNF4alpha expression, driven solely by the P1 promoter, was exclusively found in the nuclei of proximal tubule epithelial cells in the kidney.
  • During embryonic kidney development (metanephros), HNF4alpha initially appeared in comma-shaped bodies and subsequently distributed throughout the developing nephron before becoming restricted to proximal tubules.
  • Embryonic kidney, stomach, and pancreas tissues showed Hnf4alpha mRNA transcribed from both P1 and P2 promoters.
  • HNF4alpha and HNF1alpha were found to be co-expressed within the same transcriptional network, suggesting HNF4alpha acts upstream of HNF1alpha.

Conclusions:

  • HNF4alpha plays a specific role in the differentiation and function of proximal tubules in the adult kidney.
  • The developmental expression profile of HNF4alpha indicates its involvement in early nephrogenesis and subsequent nephron maturation.
  • Differential promoter usage of Hnf4alpha contributes to its tissue-specific expression and functional diversity during embryonic development.
  • HNF4alpha is likely a key regulator upstream of HNF1alpha in the transcriptional network governing kidney development and function.