MGC22487, Oct 3, Oct 4, Oct-3, Oct-4, OCT3, Oct4, Octamer binding protein 3, Octamer-binding protein 3, Octamer binding protein 4, Octamer binding transcription factor 3, Octamer-binding transcription factor 3, Octamer-4, POU domain transcription factor OCT4, OTF3, OTF4, OTF 3, OTF 4, OTF-3, POU class 5 homeobox 1, POU domain, class 5, transcription factor 1, POU domain class 5 transcription factor 1, PO5F1_HUMAN, POU type homeodomain containing DNA binding protein , POU5F1.
Expression of the POU-domain transcription factor Octamer-4 (Oct-4) is widely regarded as a hallmark of pluripotent stem cells. The relationship of Oct-4 to pluripotent stem cells is indicated by its tightly restricted expression to undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells. Upon differentiation to somatic lineages, the expression of Oct-4 disappears rapidly. Unlike the majority of pluripotent stem cell markers, the biological role of Oct-4 has been well characterized. Studies performed in mice point to the critical role of Oct-4 in the establishment and/or maintenance of pluripotent stem cells in an uncommitted state.
