constructing a mouse oct4 promoter/egfp vector, as a whole-cellular reporter to monitor the pluripotent state of cells

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. conclusion: 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.