The transcription factor STAT3 is involved in self-renewal, cell adhesion, and cell growth and survival. We are investigating the mechanisms underlying STAT3’s diverse roles in regulating embryonic stem (ES) cell fate.

To conduct these studies, we have derived STAT3-/- ES cells from mouse blastocysts generated by intercrossing mice heterozygous for a STAT3 null allele.

This has enabled us to discover some of STAT3’s key downstream targets, including Tfcp2l1 and Gbx2, in an important pathway promoting the self-renewal of ES cells.