Potential mechanistic role of <i>Mzf1</i> during embryonic development.

<p>The first peak of physiological <i>Mzf1</i> up-regulation occurs during specification of pluripotent cells, corresponding to the epiblast stage during murine development on E 6.0 or 6.5. At this time <i>Mzf1</i> seems to have an inhibitory effect on cardiac lineage commitment. The second physiological peak of <i>Mzf1</i> expression occurs during differentiation of pluripotent cells around day eight of <i>in vitro</i> differentiation. An overexpression of <i>Mzf1</i> at the beginning of this peak resulted in stimulation of cardiogenesis.