Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4) is a master regulator of the induction and maintenance of cellular pluripotency, and has crucial roles in early stages of differentiation. It is the only factor that cannot be substituted by other members of the same protein family to induce pluripotency[3]. OCT4 is encoded by the POU domain, class 5, transcription factor 1 gene, is a transcription factor vital for maintaining Embryonic stem cells pluripotency and somatic reprogramming[4].The substitution of endogenous OCT4 by a mimic of phosphorylated OCT4 with a serine-to-aspartate mutation at S236 (S236D) resulted in tumor cell differentiation, growth retardation, and inhibition of tumor sphere formation[5]. Mechanistically, ALKBH1-demethylated DNA 6mA modification could facilitate the binding of octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4) to bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) promoter and activate BMP2 transcription[6].Oct4 has been shown to be an essential regulator of embryonic stem cell (ESC) pluripotency and key to the reprogramming process. OAC2 is a structural analog of OAC1. OAC2 activates both Oct4 and Nanog reporters to a similar extent as OAC1. OAC1 and its two structural analogs OAC2 and OAC3 enhances reprogramming efficiency fourfold, up to as high as 2.75%, and accelerates the appearance of iPSC colonies 3 to 4 d when used in combination with the four reprogramming factors, Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc[7].
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