Nanog

Scientists supported by funds from the United Kingdom identified a gene present in both mouse and human embryonic stem cells, and lacking in differentiated cells. They named this gene nanog, after the mythological Celtic land of eternal youth, Tir nan Og. The researchers demonstrated that Nanog is important for maintaining the self-renewing properties of mouse embryonic stem cells and is expressed in the cells of the early embryo that are used to derive embryonic stem cells. They provide evidence that Nanog acts independently of another signal transduction pathway important to maintaining the pluripotency of stem cells, which involves the activation of Stat3.
(Chambers et al., Cell 113:643&endash;655, 2003)