Teratocarcinoma-derived growth factor 1; GPI-anchored cell membrane protein involved in Nodal signaling. Cell-associated TDGF1 acts as a Nodal coreceptor in cis. Shedding of TDGF1 by TMEM8A modulates Nodal signaling by allowing soluble TDGF1 to act as a Nodal coreceptor on other cells. Could play a role in the determination of the epiblastic cells that subsequently give rise to the mesoderm.

Activin receptor type-2B; Transmembrane serine/threonine kinase activin type-2 receptor forming an activin receptor complex with activin type-1 serine/threonine kinase receptors (ACVR1, ACVR1B or ACVR1c). Transduces the activin signal from the cell surface to the cytoplasm and is thus regulating many physiological and pathological processes including neuronal differentiation and neuronal survival, hair follicle development and cycling, FSH production by the pituitary gland, wound healing, extracellular matrix production, immunosuppression and carcinogenesis. Activin is also thought to [...]

Activin receptor type-2A; On ligand binding, forms a receptor complex consisting of two type II and two type I transmembrane serine/threonine kinases. Type II receptors phosphorylate and activate type I receptors which autophosphorylate, then bind and activate SMAD transcriptional regulators. Receptor for activin A, activin B and inhibin A. Mediates induction of adipogenesis by GDF6 (By similarity).

Homeobox protein NANOG; Transcription regulator involved in inner cell mass and embryonic stem (ES) cells proliferation and self-renewal. Imposes pluripotency on ES cells and prevents their differentiation towards extraembryonic endoderm and trophectoderm lineages. Blocks bone morphogenetic protein-induced mesoderm differentiation of ES cells by physically interacting with SMAD1 and interfering with the recruitment of coactivators to the active SMAD transcriptional complexes. Acts as a transcriptional activator or repressor. Binds optimally to the DNA consensus sequence 5'-TAAT[GT][GT] [...]

ATP-dependent RNA helicase DDX1; Acts as an ATP-dependent RNA helicase, able to unwind both RNA-RNA and RNA-DNA duplexes. Possesses 5' single-stranded RNA overhang nuclease activity. Possesses ATPase activity on various RNA, but not DNA polynucleotides. May play a role in RNA clearance at DNA double- strand breaks (DSBs), thereby facilitating the template-guided repair of transcriptionally active regions of the genome. Together with RELA, acts as a coactivator to enhance NF-kappa-B-mediated transcriptional activation. Acts as a positive transcriptional regulator of cyclin CCND2 express [...]

Developmental pluripotency-associated protein 4; May be involved in the maintenance of active epigenetic status of target genes. May inhibit differentiation of embryonic cells into a primitive ectoderm lineage.

POU domain, class 5, transcription factor 1; Transcription factor that binds to the octamer motif (5'- ATTTGCAT-3'). Forms a trimeric complex with SOX2 or SOX15 on DNA and controls the expression of a number of genes involved in embryonic development such as YES1, FGF4, UTF1 and ZFP206. Critical for early embryogenesis and for embryonic stem cell pluripotency. Belongs to the POU transcription factor family. Class-5 subfamily.

Visual system homeobox 2; Acts as a transcriptional regulator through binding to DNA at the consensus sequence 5'-[TC]TAATT[AG][AG]-3' upstream of gene promoters. Plays a significant role in the specification and morphogenesis of the sensory retina (By similarity). Mediates differentiation of V2a interneurons by repression of motor neuron gene transcription, via competitively binding to response elements that are activated by the ISL1-LHX3 complex, such as VSX1. Acts as a positive transcriptional regulator of NXNL1; regulation is significantly increased in synergy with VSX1 (By similar [...]

Nodal homolog; Essential for mesoderm formation and axial patterning during embryonic development; Belongs to the TGF-beta family.