Maintaining pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem cells

Researchers supported by Japanese funds recently identified a gene specifically expressed in mouse embryonic stem cells and preimplantation embryos. They provide evidence that the product of this gene, called nanog, is a homeobox transcription factor that plays a role in preventing differentiation and is critical to maintaining pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem cells.
(Mitsui et al., Cell 113:631&endash;642, 2003)