Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026

Oct4GiP Reporter Assay to Study Genes that Regulate Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Maintenance and Self-renewal
Published on: May 30, 2012
Evolutionary and functional analysis of the key pluripotency factor Oct4 and its family proteins
Xinmin Zhang1, Yuzhen Ma, Xiuying Liu
1Computer & Information Engineering College, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Inner Mongolia, Hohhot 010022, China.
Abstract:
Oct4 is one of the key pluripotent factors essential for embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Oct4 belongs to the POU domain family, which contains multiples genes with various important functions. Although the function of Oct4 has been extensively studied, detailed comparison of Oct4 with other POU family genes and their evolutionary analysis are still lacking. Here, we systematically identified POU family genes from lower to higher animal species. We observed an expansion of POU family genes in vertebrates, with an additional increment in mammalian genomes. We analyzed the phylogenetic relationship, tissue specific expression profiles and regulatory networks of POU family genes of the human genome, and predicted the putative binding microRNAs of human POU family genes. These results provide the first comprehensive evolutionary and comparative analysis of POU family genes, which will help to better understand the relationships among POU family genes and shed light on their future functional studies.
Related Concept Videos
Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming
Combinatorial Gene Control
The expression of more than 30,000 genes is controlled by approximately 2000-3000 transcription factors. This is possible because a single transcription factor can recognize more than one regulatory sequence. The specificity in gene...
Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming
Maintenance of the ES Cell State
Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells
Compact chromatin makes reprogramming difficult. Enzymes, such as histone demethylases and acetyltransferases, are often added during reprogramming to loosen the chromatin, making the DNA more accessible to transcription factors. Molecules that inhibit histone...
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

