The Octamer-
binding proteins (Oct) are a group of highly conserved
transcription factors that specifically bind to the octamer motif (ATGCAAAT) and closely related sequences in promoters and enhancers of a wide variety of genes. Oct factors belong to the larger family of
POU domain factors that are characterized by the presence of an amino-terminal specific subdomain (POUS) and a carboxyl-terminal homeo-subdomain (POUH). Eleven
Oct proteins have been named (Oct1-11), and currently, eight genes encoding
Oct proteins (Oct1, Oct2, Oct3/4, Oct6, Oct7, Oct8, Oct9, and Oct11) have been cloned. Oct1 and Oct2 are widely expressed in adult tissues, while other
Oct proteins are much more restricted in their expression patterns.
Oct proteins are implicated in crucial and versatile
biological events, such as embryogenesis, neurogenesis, immunity, and body
glucose and
amino acid metabolism. The aberrant expression and null function of
Oct proteins have also been linked to various diseases, including
deafness, diabetes and
cancer. In this review, I will report both the genomic structure and major functions of individual
Oct proteins in physiological and
pathological processes.