HNF-1 ((alpha) and (beta)), HNF-3 ((alpha), (beta) and (gamma)), HNF-4 ((alpha) and (gamma)), and HNF-6 compose, in part, a homoeprotein family designated the Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor family. The various HNF-1 isoforms regulate transcription of genes in the liver as well as in other tissues such as kidney, small intestine and thymus. HNF-3(alpha), HNF-3(beta) and HNF-3(gamma) regulate the transcription of numerous hepatocyte genes in adult liver. HNF-3(alpha) and HNF-3(beta) have also been shown to be involved in gastrulation events such as body axis formation. HNF-4(alpha) and HNF-4(gamma) have been shown to be important for early embryo development. HNF-4(alpha) is expressed in liver, kidney, pancreas, small intestine, testis and colon; and HNF-4(gamma) is expressed in each of these tissues except liver.