FOXA2
Encyclopedia
Hepatocyte nuclear factor 3-beta (HNF-3B), also known as forkhead box protein A2 (FOXA2) or transcription factor 3B (TCF-3B) is a protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...

 that in humans is encoded by the FOXA2 gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...

.

Function

Forkhead box protein A2 is a member of the forkhead
FOX proteins
FOX proteins are a family of transcription factors that play important roles in regulating the expression of genes involved in cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, and longevity...

 class of DNA-binding proteins. These hepatocyte nuclear factors
Hepatocyte nuclear factors
Hepatocyte nuclear factors are a group of phylogenetically unrelated transcription factors that regulate the transcription of a diverse group of genes into proteins...

 are transcriptional activators for liver-specific genes such as albumin
Albumin
Albumin refers generally to any protein that is water soluble, which is moderately soluble in concentrated salt solutions, and experiences heat denaturation. They are commonly found in blood plasma, and are unique to other blood proteins in that they are not glycosylated...

 and transthyretin
Transthyretin
Transthyretin is a serum and cerebrospinal fluid carrier of the thyroid hormone thyroxine and retinol binding protein bound to retinol. This is how transthyretin gained its name, transports thyroxine and retinol...

, and they also interact with chromatin
Chromatin
Chromatin is the combination of DNA and proteins that make up the contents of the nucleus of a cell. The primary functions of chromatin are; to package DNA into a smaller volume to fit in the cell, to strengthen the DNA to allow mitosis and meiosis and prevent DNA damage, and to control gene...

. Similar family members in mice have roles in the regulation of metabolism and in the differentiation of the pancreas and liver. This gene has been linked to sporadic cases of maturity onset diabetes of the young
Maturity onset diabetes of the young
Maturity onset diabetes of the young refers to any of several hereditary forms of diabetes caused by mutations in an autosomal dominant gene disrupting insulin production...

. Transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been identified for this gene.
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