A single allele deletion in gene encoding Zbtb38 leads to early embryonic death

Researchers have found that heterozygous loss of the methyl-CpG binding protein Zbtb38 downregulated the expression of the transcription factors Nanog and Sox2, as well as genes involved in epiblast proliferation, differentiation, and viability. This finding highlights the methyl-CpG binding protein's physiological significance throughout embryonic development.