Gene Description
hypoxia-inducible factor 1, alpha subunit (basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor)

Alternative Names
MOP1; PASD8; HIF-1 alpha; HIF1-ALPHA

Molecular Weight
120 kDa

Summary
Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF1) is a transcription factor found in mammalian cells cultured under reduced oxygen tension that plays an essential role in cellular and systemic homeostatic responses to hypoxia. HIF1 is a heterodimer composed of an alpha subunit and a beta subunit. The beta subunit has been identified as the aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT). This gene encodes the alpha subunit of HIF-1. Overexpression of a natural antisense transcript (aHIF) of this gene has been shown to be associated with nonpapillary renal carcinomas. Two alternative transcripts encoding different isoforms have been identified.¹