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. 1994 Oct 11;22(20):4284–4290. doi: 10.1093/nar/22.20.4284

LFB1/HNF1 acts as a repressor of its own transcription.

G Piaggio 1, L Tomei 1, C Toniatti 1, R De Francesco 1, J Gerstner 1, R Cortese 1
PMCID: PMC331944  PMID: 7937157

Abstract

LFB1/HNF1 is a hepatocyte-enriched trans-activator involved in the regulation of many liver-specific genes. We report the cloning and characterization of a rat genomic DNA fragment containing about 3.5 kb of the LFB1/HNF1 gene 5'-flanking region. This DNA segment is capable of directing the liver-specific expression of a reporter gene in transfection assays. More interestingly, the basal activity of the LFB1/HNF1 promoter in cultured hepatoma cell lines is down-regulated by exogenously added LFB1/HNF1 protein itself. The ability to repress transcription starting from its own promoter requires the integrity of the N-terminal LFB1/HNF1 DNA-binding domain. Contrary to the expectations, in vitro binding experiments failed to demonstrate any specific and functional interaction of purified LFB1/HNF1 with the -3.5 kb promoter sequence. In addition to the DNA-binding domain, a 60 aa region contained in the C-terminus of the protein and distinct from the previously characterized activation domains, is also required for the repressing function.

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