New type of POU domain in germ line-specific protein Oct-4

Abstract

Members of a family of murine octamer-binding proteins interact specifically with the octamer motif, a transcription regulatory element found in the promoter and enhancer regions of many genes. Oct-4 is a maternally expressed protein that is also present in the pre-implantation mouse embryo. Although many regulatory proteins are expressed in post-implantation embryos, transcription factors regulating pre-implantation processes have remained elusive. The Oct-4 gene is therefore a prime candidate for an early developmental control gene. Here we report the complementary DNA cloning of the mouse Oct-4 gene, and the characterization of the encoded protein(s) by sequential in vitro transcription, translation, DNA-binding and protease-clipping analysis. Deletion analysis shows that the DNA-binding activity is mediated by a POU domain encoded in an open reading frame corresponding to a 324-amino-acid protein. Sequence comparison with known POU domains reveals that Oct-4 is a novel member of the POU-family.

The culture and establishment of embryonic germ (EG) cell lines from Chinese mini swine

“…Rabbit polyclonal antibody against Oct-4 polypeptide [17] synthesized by SBS Ltd Co. was prepared by our lab. Immunohistochemical reaction was performed by the procedure same as that of SSEA antigen staining.…”

Origin of pluripotent germ cell tumours: The role of microenvironment during embryonic development

“…These two transcription factors are, together with SOX2, key regulators of the formation and maintenance of the inner cell mass during preimplantation development and for sustaining self-renewal in ESCs (Scholer et al, 1990;Nichols et al, 1998;Niwa et al, 2000;Avilion et al, 2003;Chambers et al, 2003;Mitsui et al, 2003). Among others, knock-out studies of both Pou5f1 and Nanog in mice have implicated these genes in the first and second initial fate decisions in mammalian development, respectively (Cavaleri and Scholer, 2003;Chambers et al, 2003).…”

Stem cell pluripotency and transcription factor Oct4

“…The development of the mammalian embryo is controlled by regulatory genes, some of which regulate the transcription of other genes [7], [8]. These regulators activate or repress patterns of gene expression that mediate phenotypic changes during stem cell differentiation.…”

“…These regulators activate or repress patterns of gene expression that mediate phenotypic changes during stem cell differentiation. Oct4 (also known as Oct-3) belongs to the POU (Pit-Oct-Unc) transcription factor family [8]. The POU family of transcription factors can activate the expression of their target genes through binding an octameric sequence motif of an AGTCAAAT consensus sequence [7], [9].…”