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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Oct4GiP Reporter Assay to Study Genes that Regulate Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Maintenance and Self-renewal
Published on: May 30, 2012
Oct-3/4: not just a gatekeeper of pluripotency for embryonic stem cell, a cell fate instructor through a gene dosage
Sonia Stefanovic1, Michel Pucéat
1INSERM U421/I-Stem, Evry, France.
Abstract:
Oct-3/4 encoded by Pou5f1 has been longwise recognised as a gatekeeper for embryonic stem (ES) cell pluripotency. Recently, it was suggested that Oct-3/4 one of the earliest transcription factor of the embryo might feature some functions in differentiation of cell lineages. We recently uncovered a key role of Oct-3/4 in both ES cell specification toward a cardiac lineage and in mesodermal commitment of the embryonic epiblast. Our findings demonstrated a gene dosage effect of Oct-3/4, a factor at the cross-road between cell self-renewal and cell lineage specification. What is the genetic and/or epigenetic mechanism underlying this process is still questionable. The extraview presents some hypotheses that might account for the pleiotropic dose-dependent functions of Oct-3/4.
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