Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α promotes protein synthesis through the sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 4 in liver development

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We screened the downstream molecules of HNF4a during liver development, sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter (SNAT) 4 was identified. The aim of this study is to investigate the regulation of SNAT4 by HNF4a and to clarify its roles in differentiating hepatocytes. SNAT4 mRNA showed a marked perinatal increase in mRNA levels, and was predominant among system A amino acid transporters. It was first detected in E18.5 liver in immunohistochemistry, and found in most hepatocytes after birth. Three alternative first exons were founding SNAT4 gene. Finally, over-expression experiments demonstrated that SNAT4 facilitated amino acid uptake and de novo protein synthesis in primary hepatoblasts.