The 4-Oct antibody, commonly referred to as anti-Oct-4 antibody, targets the Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct-4), a pivotal protein encoded by the *POU5F1* gene in humans. Oct-4 is a member of the POU-domain transcription factor family and plays a critical role in maintaining pluripotency and self-renewal in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). It regulates the expression of genes essential for early embryonic development and cellular reprogramming.
Antibodies against Oct-4 are widely used in stem cell research, cancer biology, and regenerative medicine to identify and characterize pluripotent cells. In cancer studies, Oct-4 expression is linked to germ cell tumors and某些 cancers with stem-like properties, making it a potential diagnostic or prognostic marker. However, specificity challenges exist due to splice variants (e.g., Oct-4A vs. Oct-4B) and pseudogenes, necessitating validation via controls like knockout cell lines.
These antibodies are employed in techniques like immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and Western blot. Their applications extend to quality control in iPSC generation and studying mechanisms of cellular differentiation. Despite their utility, variations in antibody clones (e.g., C30A3. 9E2) may yield differing results, emphasizing the need for context-specific validation. Overall, Oct-4 antibodies remain indispensable tools for exploring pluripotency and disease mechanisms.