SOX2 encodes a member of the SOX (SRY-related HMG-box) family of transcription factors, which play a vital role in embryonic development. SOX2 antibody research has identified Sox2 as a key transcription factor in pluripotent stem cells. We at Novus Biologicals offer a number of top quality SOX2 products in our stem cell antibody catalog.
Embryonic stem cell research has shown NANOG, SOX2 and OCT3/4 to form the core of the self-renewal transcription network in pluripotent ESCs, sharing transcription of numerous genes. Selective down regulation of these genes induces differentiation and halts pluripotency. In recent experiments, a pluripotent stem cell state was achieved in adult somatic cells, by forced expression of NANOG, SOX2, OCT4 and LIN28 - another resident of our stem cell antibody catalog. This has raised the possibility of using reprogrammed iPSCs (induced pluripotent stem cells) as therapies. The downside is that the viral transfection technique used to generate iPSCs can induce expression of oncogenes.
Induced PSCs may be either partially or fully reprogrammed, possibly by intervention of reprogramming factors. This has led scientists to speculate that overexpression or chromosomal acquisition of these factors – as seen in some tumors – may promote tumorigenesis by a partial programming-like process. OCT4, SOX2 and other pluripotency factors in our antibody catalog have been identified as both ESC markers, and markers for cancer stem cells.
SOX2 has been implicated in normal neural maintenance in adults (V. Episkopou, 2005) but is not significantly expressed in healthy breast tissue. In 2011, Lengerke et al published SOX2 antibody research, showing SOX2 to be expressed in the primary tumors of breast cancer patients. This points to SOX2 playing a role in the malignant progression of mammary tumors.
Novus Biologicals offers SOX2 reagents for your research needs including:
