SOX2, short for SRY (Sex Determining Region Y)-Box 2, is a crucial transcription factor involved in embryonic development, stem cell pluripotency, and tissue homeostasis. Primarily located in the cell nucleus, SOX2 regulates gene expression by binding to specific DNA sequences and controlling the activity of target genes. It plays a key role in maintaining stem cell pluripotency and self-renewal, working in concert with other transcription factors such as OCT4 and NANOG to form a core network that sustains the undifferentiated state of embryonic stem cells.