alternative splicing generates different 5' utrs in oct4b variants

Background: the human oct4 gene, responsible for pluripotency and self-renewal of embryonic stem (es) and embryonic carcinoma (ec) cells, can generate several transcripts (oct4a, oct4b-variant 2, oct4b-variant 3, oct4b-variant 5, oct4b1, oct4 b2 and oct4b3) by alternative splicing and alternative promoters. oct4a that is responsible for es and ec cell stemness properties is transcribed from a promoter upstream of exon1a in those cells. the oct4b group variants (oct4b-variant2, oct4bvariant3, oct4b-variant5, oct4b1, oct4b2 and oct4b3) are transcribed from a different promoter located in intron 1 and some of them respond to the cell stresses, but cannot sustain the es/ec cell self-renewal. however, the exact function of oct4b group variants is still unclear. methods: in the present study, we employed rt-pcr and sequencing approaches to explore different forms of oct4 transcripts. results: our data revealed that the oct4b group variants (oct4b-variant2, oct4 b-variant3, oct4b1, oct4b2 and oct4b3) have longer 5' utr in the human bladder carcinoma cell line of 5637. conclusion: these oct4 variants undergo alternative splicing in their 5' utr which might exert regulatory roles in transcription and translation mechanisms.