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Figure 2 | Stem Cell Research & Therapy

Figure 2

From: Role of Oct4 in maintaining and regaining stem cell pluripotency

Figure 2

Oct4 interacts with various partners and regulates different target sets to carry out its functions. Depending on its associated partners, Oct4 can either activate or repress its target genes. When associated with factors such as Sox2, Nanog and Sall4 at regulatory elements, Oct4 usually exerts stimulatory effects on gene expression. Additionally, Oct4 can repress developmental genes through interacting with repressors (for example, NuRD and PRC1). Through regulating various targets, Oct4 has versatile effects on pluripotency: it maintains self-renewal and pluripotency by activating its own expression and that of factors such as Sox2 and Nanog; through modulating the expression or function of development-associated genes - such as Stk40, Cdx2, Eset and FoxD3 - Oct4 prevents the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells; it can also influence other aspects of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), including cell cycle and X-chromosome inactivation, through various effectors (for example, miR-302a, Ctcf ). ExEn, extraembryonic endoderm.

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