In vivo role of the HNF4α AF-1 activation domain revealed by exon swapping

The gene encoding the nuclear receptor hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) generates isoforms HNF4α1 and HNF4α7 from usage of alternative promoters. In particular, HNF4α7 is expressed in the pancreas whereas HNF4α1 is found in liver, and mutations affecting HNF4α function cause impaired insulin secretion and/or hepatic defects in humans and in tissue‐specific ‘knockout’ mice. HNF4α1 and α7 isoforms differ exclusively by amino acids encoded by the first exon which, in HNF4α1 but not in HNF4α7, includes the activating function (AF)‐1 transactivation domain. To investigate the roles of HNF4α1 and HNF4α7 in vivo , we generated mice expressing only one isoform under control of both promoters, via reciprocal swapping of the isoform‐specific first exons. Unlike Hnf4 α gene disruption which causes embryonic lethality, these ‘α7‐only’ and ‘α1‐only’ mice are viable, indicating functional redundancy of the isoforms. However, the former show dyslipidemia and preliminary results indicate impaired glucose tolerance for the latter, revealing functional specificities of the isoforms. These ‘knock‐in’ mice provide the first test in vivo of the HNF4α AF‐1 function and have permitted identification of AF‐1‐dependent target genes.