Two phenotypes exist in the human population with regard to expression of lactase in adults. Lactase non-persistence (adult-type hypolactasia and lactose intolerance) is characterized by a decline in the expression of lactase-phlorizin hydrolase (LPH) after weaning. In contrast, lactase-persistent individuals have a high LPH throughout their lifespan. Lactase persistence and non-persistence are associated with a T/C polymorphism at position -13,910 upstream the lactase gene. A nuclear factor binds more strongly to the T-13,910 variant associated with lactase persistence than the C-13,910 variant associated with lactase non-persistence. Oct-1 and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase were co-purified by DNA affinity purification using the sequence of the T-13,910 variant. Supershift analyses show that Oct-1 binds directly to the T-13,910 variant, and we suggest that GAPDH is co-purified due to interactions with Oct-1. Expression of Oct-1 stimulates reporter gene expression from the T and the C-13,910 variant/LPH promoter constructs only when it is co-expressed with HNF1alpha. Binding sites for other intestinal transcription factors (GATA-6, HNF4alpha, Fox and Cdx-2) were identified in the region of the -13,910 T/C polymorphism. Three of these sites are required for the enhancer activity of the -13,910 region. The data suggest that the binding of Oct-1 to the T-13,910 variant directs increased lactase promoter activity and this might provide an explanation for the lactase persistence phenotype in the human population.

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The complete primary structure (967 amino acids) of an intestinal human aminopeptidase N (EC 3.4.11.2) was deduced from the sequence of a cDNA clone. Aminopeptidase N is anchored to the microvillar membrane via an uncleaved signal for membrane insertion. A domain constituting amino acid 2X%555 positioned within the catalytic domain shows very clear homology to E. coli aminopcptidase N and contains Zn* + ligands. Therefore these residues are part of the active site. However, no homology of the anchor/junctional peptide domain is found suggesting that the juxta-and intramembraneous parts of the molecule have been added/preserve-d during development. It is speculated that this part carries the apical address.

BackgroundThe role of HNF4α has been extensively studied in hepatocytes and pancreatic β-cells, and HNF4α is also regarded as a key regulator of intestinal epithelial cell differentiation. The aim of the present work is to identify novel HNF4α target genes in the human intestinal epithelial cells in order to elucidate the role of HNF4α in the intestinal differentiation progress.MethodsWe have performed a ChIP-chip analysis of the human intestinal cell line Caco-2 in order to make a genome-wide identification of HNF4α binding to promoter regions. The HNF4α ChIP-chip data was matched with gene expression and histone H3 acetylation status of the promoters in order to identify HNF4α binding to actively transcribed genes with an open chromatin structure.Results1,541 genes were identified as potential HNF4α targets, many of which have not previously been described as being regulated by HNF4α. The 1,541 genes contributed significantly to gene ontology (GO) pathways categorized by lipid and amino acid transport and metabolism. An analysis of the homeodomain transcription factor Cdx-2 (CDX2), the disaccharidase trehalase (TREH), and the tight junction protein cingulin (CGN) promoters verified that these genes are bound by HNF4α in Caco2 cells. For the Cdx-2 and trehalase promoters the HNF4α binding was verified in mouse small intestine epithelium.ConclusionThe HNF4α regulation of the Cdx-2 promoter unravels a transcription factor network also including HNF1α, all of which are transcription factors involved in intestinal development and gene expression.