Fig. 5. Low C2EIP expression maintains ESC pluripotency and inhibits PGC generation.

a Relative AKP activity was measured in ESC after transfection with C2EIP overexpression (OE) or knockout (KO)vector. ESC culture with LIF was the positive control, and ESC culture with no transfection or treatment was the blank control. b Western blot analysis of OCT4 protein levels in the RA-induced model. ESC without any treatment were the blank control. c qRT-PCR to examine the effects of overexpression and knockout ofC2EIP on the expression of pluripotency genes. ESC without any treatment were the blank control. d mRNA levels of pluripotency genes were detected on day 6 after induction by qRT-PCR. ESC without any treatment were the blank control. e RA-induced cells were transfected with N1-pNanog-EGFP vector on day 6 to quantify Nanog promoter-activated EGFP expression. ESC culture with LIF was the positive control, ESC culture with no transfection or treatment was the blank control