Anti-Oct4/POU5F1 Antibody Picoband®

Oct-4 (octamer-binding transcription factor 4), also known as POU5F1 (POU domain, class 5, transcription factor 1), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the POU5F1 gene. It is mapped to 6p21.33. This gene encodes a transcription factor containing a POU homeodomain that plays a key role in embryonic development and stem cell pluripotency. Aberrant expression of this gene in adult tissues is associated with tumorigenesis. This gene can participate in a translocation with the Ewing's sarcoma gene on chromosome 21, which also leads to tumor formation. Alternative splicing, as well as usage of alternative AUG and non-AUG translation initiation codons, results in multiple isoforms. One of the AUG start codons is polymorphic in human populations. Related pseudogenes have been identified on chromosomes 1, 3, 8, 10, and 12.

POU domain, class 5, transcription factor 1; Octamer-binding protein 3; Oct-3; Octamer-binding protein 4; Oct-4; Octamer-binding transcription factor 3; OTF-3; POU5F1; OCT3; OCT4; OTF3

Expressed in developing brain. Highest levels found in specific cell layers of the cortex, the olfactory bulb, the hippocampus and the cerebellum. Low levels of expression in adult tissues.

Transcription factor that binds to the octamer motif (5'-ATTTGCAT-3') . Forms a trimeric complex with SOX2 on DNA and controls the expression of a number of genes involved in embryonic development such as YES1, FGF4, UTF1 and ZFP206. Critical for early embryogenesis and for embryonic stem cell pluripotency.

1. Bhutani, N., Brady, J. J., Damian, M., Sacco, A., Corbel, S. Y., Blau, H. M. Reprogramming towards pluripotency requires AID-dependent DNA demethylation. Nature 463: 1042-1047, 2010. 2. Chia, N.-Y., Chan, Y.-S., Feng, B., Lu, X., Orlov, Y. L., Moreau, D., Kumar, P., Yang, L., Jiang, J., Lau, M.-S., Huss, M., Soh, B.-S., Kraus, P., Li, P., Lufkin, T., Lim, B., Clarke, N. D., Bard, F., Ng, H.-H. A genome-wide RNAi screen reveals determinants of human embryonic stem cell identity. Nature 468: 316-320, 2010.

Store at -20°C for one year from date of receipt. After reconstitution, at 4°C for one month. It can also be aliquotted and stored frozen at -20°C for six months. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.