FOXA1

FOXA1 belongs to FOXA protein family. FOXA contains a winged helix structure necessary for binding to the target DNA, the structure consists of three alpha-helices arranged in a helix-turn-helix core flanked by rings. FOXA1, 2 and 3 have substantial homology in the DNA binding domain, FOXA1 has 95% sequence homology with FOXA3 and 90% homology with FOXA2. FOXA1 gene-inactivated mice died early in life, but their livers appeared histologically normal. Mice with islet-specific deficiency of FOXA1 exhibited decreased glucose-stimulated insulin release and reduced pancreatic insulin content. Consistent with the reduction in glucagon gene expression levels, the content of glucagon was reduced in FOXA1-, FOXA2-, and FOXA1/FOXA2-deficient α cells, and it seems that only the combined silencing of FOXA1 and FOXA2 can affect the secretion of glucagon[1].