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-3alpha, HNF-3beta and HNF-3gamma regulate the transcription of numerous hepatocyte genes in adult liver. HNF-3alpha and HNF-3beta have also been shown to be involved in gastrulation events such as body axis formation. HNF-4alpha and HNF-4gamma have been shown to be important for early embryo development. HNF-4alpha is expressed in liver, kidney, pancreas, small intestine, testis and colon; and HNF-4gamma is expressed in each of these tissues except liver.