Perivenous expression of the mRNA of the three hypoxia-inducible factor alpha-subunits, HIF1 alpha, HIF2 alpha and HIF3 alpha, in rat liver

The cDNAs of three hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) alpha -subunits were clon ed from RNA of primary rat hepatocytes by reverse transcriptase PCR. All th ree cDNAs encoded functionally active proteins, of 825, 874 and 662 amino a cids. After transfection they were able to activate luciferase activity of a luciferase gene construct containing three HIF-responsive elements. The m RNAs of the rat HIF alpha -subunits were expressed predominantly in the per ivenous zone of rat liver tissue; the nuclear HIF alpha proteins, however, did not appear to be zonated.