Activation of glucokinase gene expression by hepatic nuclear factor 4 alpha in primary hepatocytes

Abstract

Glucokinase (GK) is a key enzyme for glucose utilization in liver and shows a higher expression in the perivenous zone. In primary rat hepatocytes, the GK gene expression was activated by HNF (hepatic nuclear factor)-4alpha via the sequence -52/-39 of the GK promoter. Venous pO(2) enhanced HNF-4 levels and binding to the GK-HNF-4 element. Thus, HNF-4alpha could play the role of a regulator for zonated GK expression.