Embryonic stem (ES) cell-specific transcription factor required to regulate ES cell pluripotency. Binds telomeres and plays a key role in genomic stability in ES cells by regulating telomere elongation. Acts as an activator of spontaneous telomere sister chromatid exchange (T-SCE) and telomere elongation in undifferentiated ES cells.
Background References
1. Dan J et al. Zscan4 Inhibits Maintenance DNA Methylation to Facilitate Telomere Elongation in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells. Cell Rep. 2017 Aug 22;20(8):1936-1949.
2. Zhang B et al.The senescence-associated secretory phenotype is potentiated by feedforward regulatory mechanisms involving Zscan4 and TAK1. Nat Commun. 2018 Apr 30;9(1):1723.