NANOG

Developmental stage

Expressed in the central portion of the morula, the inner cell mass (ICM) of the blastocyst, in embryonic stem (ES) and embryonic germ (EG) cells, in the epiblast between 6.5 and 7.5 dpc, in primordial germ cells (PGCs) between 7.75 and 12.5 dpc (at protein level). The expression in PGCs decreases in female germ cells that entered meiosis at 13.5 dpc and in male germ cells that entered mitotic arrest at 14.5 dpc (at protein level). Not expressed in unfertilized eggs or 2- or 8-cell-stage embryos (at protein level). Expressed in the central portion of the morula, the inner cell mass (ICM) of the blastocyst, in ES and EG cells, in the epiblast at 6 dpc and in PGCs of genital ridges between 11.5 and 12.5 dpc. Expression decreases with ES differentiation.

Function

Transcription regulator involved in inner cell mass and embryonic stem (ES) cells proliferation and self-renewal (PubMed:25825768). Imposes pluripotency on ES cells and prevents their differentiation towards extraembryonic endoderm and trophectoderm lineages. Blocks bone morphogenetic protein-induced mesoderm differentiation of ES cells by physically interacting with SMAD1 and interfering with the recruitment of coactivators to the active SMAD transcriptional complexes. Acts as a transcriptional activator or repressor. Binds optimally to the DNA consensus sequence 5'-TAAT[GT][GT]-3' or 5'-[CG][GA][CG]C[GC]ATTAN[GC]-3'. Binds to the POU5F1/OCT4 promoter (By similarity). Able to autorepress its expression in differentiating (ES) cells: binds to its own promoter following interaction with ZNF281/ZFP281, leading to recruitment of the NuRD complex and subsequent repression of expression. When overexpressed, promotes cells to enter into S phase and proliferation.

Sequence similarities

Belongs to the Nanog homeobox family.

Tissue specificity

Not expressed in oocytes and spermatogonia (at protein level). Not expressed in many somatic organs, ovary, testis, fibroblast and hematopoietic cell lines.

Cellular localization

• Nucleus

Alternative names

• Homeobox protein NANOG
• ES cell-associated protein 4
• Early embryo specific expression NK-type homeobox protein
• Homeobox transcription factor Nanog
• Nanog
• Ecat4
• Enk

Database links

• entrezGene:71950
• swissprot:Q80Z64

Target type

Proteins

Primary research area

Epigenetics

Other research areas

• Oncology

Molecular weight

34240Da