THE POU FACTOR OCT-6 AND SCHWANN-CELL DIFFERENTIATION

The POU transcription factor Oct-6, also known as SCIP or Tst-1, has b een implicated as a major transcriptional regulator in Schwann cell di fferentiation. Microscopic and immunochemical analysis of sciatic nerv es of Oct-6(-/-) mice at different stages of postnatal development rev eals a delay in Schwann cell differentiation, with a transient arrest at the promyelination stage. Thus, Oct-6 appears to be required for th e transition of promyelin cells to myelinating cells. Once these cells progress past this point, Oct-6 is no longer required, and myelinatio n occurs normally.