Structural Basis of Natural Promoter Recognition by a Unique Nuclear Receptor, HNF4α: DIABETES GENE PRODUCT

HNF4 alpha ( hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha) plays an essential role in the development and function of vertebrate organs, including hepatocytes and pancreatic beta-cells by regulating expression of multiple genes involved in organ development, nutrient transport, and diverse metabolic pathways. As such, HNF4 alpha is a culprit gene product for a monogenic and dominantly inherited form of diabetes, known as maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY). As a unique member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, HNF4 alpha recognizes target genes containing two hexanucleotide direct repeat DNA-response elements separated by one base pair (DR1) by exclusively forming a cooperative homodimer. We describe here the 2.0 angstrom crystal structure of human HNF4 alpha DNA binding domain in complex with a high affinity promoter element of another MODY gene, HNF1 alpha, which reveals the molecular basis of unique target gene selection/recognition, DNA binding cooperativity, and dysfunction caused by diabetes-causing mutations. The predicted effects of MODY mutations have been tested by a set of biochemical and functional studies, which show that, in contrast to other MODY gene products, the subtle disruption of HNF4 alpha molecular function can cause significant effects in afflicted MODY patients.