Table 2. Scoring scheme to define core members of the PGN.
Using the published literature, we assigned one point for each of the first three criteria satisfied, and then to emphasize the importance of network connectivity to master regulatory potency, each interaction node was eligible for one point. “Required” and “Expressed” considered only data derived from pre-implantation embryonic tissue and disregarded experiments in cultured cells. Interactions between the top six scoring genes are summarized in Figs. 4 and 5.
| Candidate Master Regulator |
Sufficient | Required | Expressed | Regulates expression of another candidate |
Expression regulated by another candidate |
Binds another candidate |
Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct4 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 21 | ||
| Nanog | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 16 | ||
| Esrrb | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 11 | ||
| Sall4 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 11 | ||
| Sox2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 11 | ||
| Klf4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | ||
| Nr5a2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | ||
| Gmnn | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
| c-Myc | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| Gata3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |