Members of the SALL gene family encode putative zinc finger transcription factors highly expressed during development. Sal-like protein 4 (SALL4) serves as a master regulator of embryonic pluripotency and is involved in processes associated with stem cell activities. SALL4 is expressed very early in development with other pluripotency regulators, such as Oct-4 and Nanog. SALL4 expression in germ cells makes it a useful marker for germ cell tumours such as seminoma, embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac tumours and teratomas. SALL4 expression is also seen in the spermatogonia of normal testis.
Members of the SALL gene family encode putative zinc finger transcription factors highly expressed during development. Sal-like protein 4 (SALL4) serves as a master regulator of embryonic pluripotency and is involved in processes associated with stem cell activities. SALL4 is expressed very early in development with other pluripotency regulators, such as Oct-4 and Nanog. SALL4 expression in germ cells makes it a useful marker for germ cell tumours such as seminoma, embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac tumours and teratomas. SALL4 expression is also seen in the spermatogonia of normal testis.
