Nanog, Oct4, and Sox2 form the core of a transcription factor network that maintains
embryonic stem cells in the pluripotent state in both humans and mice. These critical factors
have been implicated as both positive and negative regulators of transcription, varying by
promoter and differentiation state of the cell. The Mediator complex, a ubiquitous conserved
complex of∼ 30 subunits, facilitates transcription by coordinating RNA polymerase II binding
to target promoters via gene-specific activators and can be divided into several functional …