Epigenetic mechanisms, often defined as regulating gene activity independently of
underlying DNA sequence, are crucial for healthy development. The sum total of epigenetic …

Pluripotent cells have the potential to differentiate into all of the cell types of an animal. This
unique cell state is governed by an interconnected network of transcription factors. Among …

Pioneer transcription factors have the ability to access DNA in compacted chromatin.
Multiple transcription factors can bind together to a regulatory element in a cooperative way …

The embryo instructs the allocation of cell states to spatially regulate functions. In the
blastocyst, patterning of trophoblast (TR) cells ensures successful implantation and …

Oct4 is widely considered the most important among the four Yamanaka reprogramming
factors. Here, we show that the combination of Sox2, Klf4, and cMyc (SKM) suffices for …

Embryogenesis necessitates harmonious coordination between embryonic and
extraembryonic tissues. Although stem cells of both embryonic and extraembryonic origins …

Despite the therapeutic promise of direct reprogramming, basic principles concerning fate
erasure and the mechanisms to resolve cell identity conflicts remain unclear. To tackle these …

Abstract The POU (Pit-Oct-Unc) protein family is an evolutionary ancient group of
transcription factors (TFs) that bind specific DNA sequences to direct gene expression …

Tissue-specific transcription factors primarily act to define the phenotype of the cell. The
power of a single transcription factor to alter cell fate is often minimal, as seen in gain-of …

A few central transcription factors inside mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells and induced
pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are believed to control the cells' pluripotency. Characterizations …