Formation of pluripotent stem cells in the mammalian embryo depends on the POU transcription factor Oct4

Article Abstract:

Results of a study show that Oct4, a mammalian POU transcription factor, is important for the identity of the the pluripotential founder cell population in the mammalian embryo. Oct4-deficient embryos develop to the blastocyst stage but inner cell mass cells are not pluripotent. Rather, they are restricted to differentiation along the extraembryonic trophoblast lineage. Oct4 is shown to determine paracrine growth factor signaling from stem cells to the trophectoderm.

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BMP induction if Id proteins suppresses differentiation and sustains embryonic stem cell self-renewal in collaboration with STAT3

Article Abstract:

Research indicates that serum growth factors produced by mouse embryonic stem cells can promote self renewal of the stem cells as shown by culturing stem cells in the absence of serum, in which neural differentiation is partially inhibited by leukemia inhibitory factor, in combination with bone morphogenetic proteins, attenuating self renewal.

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Functional expression cloning of nanog, a pluripotency sustaining factor in embryonic stem cells

Article Abstract:

Mouse embryonic stem cell propagation is mediated by a homeodomain protein, which serves as an effector of embryonic cell self-renewal. Data indicate that this homeobox gene encodes a homeoprotein, Nanog, which is expressed in founder cells of embryos.

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