Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1 Induced Transcript 1 (TGFb1I1)

Like the mouse Hic5 protein, the deduced human protein contains 444 amino acids with 4 LIM domains. They share 97% sequence identity in the double zinc finger LIM domains and 84.3% in the N-terminal domains. Both show sequence homology with the paxillin protein. Hic5 and Pparg colocalized to the villus epithelium of mouse small intestine, and their expression during embryonic gut development correlated with the transition from endoderm to specialized epithelium. Overexpression of HIC5 in colon cancer cells enhanced PPARG-mediated induction of several gut epithelial differentiation and maturation markers. Overexpression of HIC5 during mouse preadipocyte differentiation inhibited adipogenesis while inducing inappropriate expression of several mRNAs characteristic of gut epithelium.