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. 2011 Jul 13;2(3):420–448. doi: 10.3390/genes2030420

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© 2011 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

This article is an Open Access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).

PMC Copyright notice

Cell commitment to pluripotent epiblast (EPI) vs. primitive endoerm (PrE) coincides with sequential expression key trans-factors. This second cell fate decision involves three successive phases. From the initial co-expression, emerges a mutually-exclusive expression of trans-factors and salt-and-pepper distribution of cells fated to form (Nanog-positive) EPI or (Gata6/Sox17/Gata4-positive) PrE (∼64-cell stage), followed by cell sorting (>100 cell stage) which achieves a positional segregation of EPI vs. PrE fated cells into different tissue layers within the ICM. At the time of implantation the Gata6/Sox17/Gata4/Sox7-positive PrE cell layer lies adjacent to the blastocoelic cavity, while the EPI is internal being encapsulated by PrE at one side and TE at the other.