Anti-OCT4

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.