Nanog [MD204R]

Nanog is a homeodomain-containing transcription factor that is involved in the maintenance of pluripotency and self renewal in embryonic stem cells. Nanog expression is controlled by a network of factors including Sox2 and the key pluripotency regulator Oct-4. Recent advances in somatic cell reprogramming have utilized viral expression of combinations of transcription factors including nanog, Oct-4, Sox2, KLF4, c-Myc, and LIN28. Studies show that Nanog expression can be absent in normal adult organ tissues, but presented in undifferentiated germ cell tumors such as seminoma, dysgerminoma and embryonal carcinoma. Nanog may be used as an aid in the determination of undifferentiated tumors of germ cell origin from non-germ cell tumors