Akihiko Okuda

TL;DR: The results indicate that the essential function of Sox2 is to stabilize ES cells in a pluripotent state by maintaining the requisite level of Oct3/4 expression.

TL;DR: The biochemical analyses reveal that the UTF1 regulatory element can, by its one-base difference from the canonical octamer-binding sequence, selectively recruit the complex comprising Oct-3/4 and Sox-2 and preclude the binding of the transcriptionally inactive complex containing Oct-1 or Oct-6, and these properties are dictated by the unique ability of the Oct- 3/4 POU-homeodomain that recognizes a variant of theOctamer motif in the UTF2 regulatory element.

TL;DR: The regulatory regions of the Sox-2 gene are analyzed and two enhancers which stimulate transcription in ES cells as well as in embryonal carcinoma cells are identified which are able to stimulate transcription through the SRR2 element.

TL;DR: The role of miR-125b in osteoblastic differentiation in mouse mesenchymal stem cells, ST2, by regulating cell proliferation is described and it is strongly suggested that miR -125b is involved in osteoblast differentiation through the regulation of cell proliferation.

TL;DR: These approaches enhance the ability to identify pathogenic gene mutations in patients with biochemically defined mitochondrial respiratory chain complex deficiencies in clinical settings and will improve patient care of this complex disorder.