title: Constructing a Mouse Oct4 Promoter/EGFP Vector, as a Whole-Cellular Reporter to Monitor the Pluripotent State of Cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The transcription factor Oct-4, is an important marker of undifferentiating level and a key regulating factor for maintenance of pluripotency in cells. Establishment of an Oct-4 promoter-based reporter system is an appropriate tool for monitoring the differentiation of embryonic stem cells both in vivo and in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, we report construction of a recombinant vector, pDB2 Oct4 promoter/EGFP, in which expression of Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP) was controlled by the mouse Oct-4 promoter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In transfected mouse embryonic stem cells with this vector, EGFP was predicted to be specifically expressed in pluripotency state. After transfection, high-level expression of EGFP under the control of Oct-4 promoter was observed in manipulated embryonic stem cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thus, our new cellular reporter showed that both the properties of embryonic cells and expression the EGFP could be of great help in studying the differentiating and reprogramming mechanisms of mESCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Cell Sciences Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran ; Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technologies, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghorbani
authors.forename: Abdolrahman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Emamzadeh
authors.forename: Yahya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Khazaie
authors.forename: Kianoush
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dormiani
authors.forename: Kamran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ghaedi
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rabbani
authors.forename: Mahboubeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foruzanfar
authors.forename: Khadijeh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karbalaie
authors.forename: Fereshteh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Karamali
authors.forename: Liana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lachinani
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiani-Esfahani
authors.forename: Marzieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nematollahi
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein Nasr
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Esfahani
keywords: Embryonic stem cells; Enhanced green fluorescent protein; Mice; Transcription factors