Oct-3/4: Not Just a Gatekeeper of Pluripotency for Embryonic Stem Cell, a Cell Fate Instructor through a Gene Dosage Effect

Sonia Stefanovic and Michel Pucéat

volume 6 | issue 1

1 January 2007
Pages: 8 - 10

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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.

Authors

Sonia Stefanovic

INSERM U421/I-Stem; Evry, France

Michel Pucéat

INSERM U421/I-Stem; Evry, France

We now provide open access to journal articles published online for one year or more. This article may be downloaded at the following link: