SOX2

SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 2, also known as SOX2, is a transcription factor that is essential to maintain self-renewal of undifferentiated embryonic stem cells.

This intronless gene encodes a member of the SRY-related HMG-box (SOX) family of transcription factors involved in the regulation of embryonic development and in the determination of cell fate. The encoded protein may act as a transcriptional activator after forming a protein complex with other proteins. Mutations in this gene have been associated with bilateral anophthalmia, a severe form of structural eye malformation. This gene lies within an intron of another gene called SOX2 overlapping transcript (SOX2OT).

The ectopic expression of SOX2 may be related to abnormal differentiation of colorectal cancer cells.