Pluripotency Factors on Their Lineage Move

Figure 2

Pluripotency factor expression during early embryonic development. Pluripotency factors are expressed throughout the pluripotency state and subsequently govern early lineage decisions in mouse. (a) The early blastocyst consists of the ICM and the outer trophectoderm. Pluripotency factors are expressed in the ICM, however, interacting with trophectodermal genes for proper lineage development. (b) At the late blastocyst stage, the ICM segregates into the epiblast, notably exhibiting slightly different gene expression patterns, and into the extraembryonic endoderm, later giving rise to yolk sac. Further, the trophectoderm has formed the extraembryonic ectoderm lineage which will generate the placenta. (c) After implantation, the primitive ectoderm, which has origins in the epiblast, forms the four embryo-derived stem cell lineages (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm, and germ lineage). Notably, pluripotency factors guide early embryonic decision according to their expression profile, respectively. ICM: inner cell mass.

(a)

(b)

(c)