Transferrin gene as a model for liver-specific gene expression

The results obtained in the recent years have led to an understanding of the mechanisms controlling liver-specific gene expression. They indicate that this expression needs an appropriate combination of hepatocyte and ubiquitous transcriptional factors, interacting with cis-acting DNA elements, in a characteristic manner for each gene. However, a number of important questions about liver organogenesis and specific cell differentiation remain to be answered.