Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026
07:53
Application of RNAi and Heat-shock-induced Transcription Factor Expression to Reprogram Germ Cells to Neurons in C. elegans
Published on: January 1, 2018
Elucidating nuclear reprogramming mechanisms: taking a synergistic approach.
Stephen Sullivan1, Justin K Ichida, Akihiro Umezawa
1Stowers Medical Institute and Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
Reproductive Biomedicine Online
|February 7, 2008
Summary
Nuclear reprogramming restores developmental potential to somatic cells using methods like nuclear transfer. This review explores enhancing reprogramming success rates through synergistic approaches across different techniques.
Area of Science:
- Cellular reprogramming and developmental biology.
- Epigenetics and chromatin dynamics.
- Stem cell biology and regenerative medicine.
Background:
- Nuclear reprogramming restores developmental potential to differentiated somatic nuclei.
- This process involves heritable changes in gene expression and chromatin structure.
- Natural reprogramming occurs post-fertilization; artificial methods include nuclear transfer, cell fusion, and viral transduction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current artificial nuclear reprogramming methods.
- To propose a synergistic approach to improve reprogramming efficiency.
- To identify common mechanisms underlying the reacquisition of developmental potential.
Main Methods:
- Review of nuclear transfer, cell fusion, and viral transduction techniques.
- Analysis of success rates and limitations of each method.
- Proposal for transposing facilitating conditions between systems.
Main Results:
- Current artificial reprogramming methods achieve low success rates (e.g., 2-5% for nuclear transfer).
- Each method has unique advantages and limitations for inducing reprogramming.
- A synergistic approach could potentially increase reprogramming incidence.
Conclusions:
- Improving nuclear reprogramming efficiency remains a significant challenge.
- Combining strategies from different reprogramming systems may enhance success.
- Further research is needed to elucidate common pathways for developmental potential reacquisition.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Introduction to Nuclear Reprogramming
Nuclear reprogramming is the process of switching gene expression of one cell type to that of another cell type, usually from a differentiated cell state to an undifferentiated cell state. Differentiation occurs during processes such as development and morphogenesis, tissue regeneration, and malignancy. Cells can also be artificially induced to reprogram their gene expression by techniques such as nuclear transfer, induced pluripotency, and cell fusion. Such techniques have many applications in...
01:24Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming
Nuclear reprogramming is a process of transforming one cell type into an unrelated cell type by epigenetic changes that alter the cell’s original gene expression pattern. Such epigenetic changes force cells to express a different set of genes, which play a significant role in inducing transformation into other cell types. Nuclear reprogramming offers applications in reproductive cloning for livestock propagation and regenerative medicine — developing patient-specific cells for injury repair.
01:29Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming
Reprogramming alters the gene expression in somatic cells, transforming them into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells over several generations. Scientists can reprogram cells by introducing genes for four transcription factors—Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (OSKM) by viral or non-viral methods. These factors are also known as Yamanaka factors after Shinya Yamanaka, who first generated iPS cells using mouse skin cells. Yamanaka was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012 for this...
01:32Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells
Chromatin modification alters gene expression; therefore, scientists can add histone-modifying enzymes, histone variants, and chromatin remodeling complexes to somatic cells to aid reprogramming into pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.
Compact chromatin makes reprogramming difficult. Enzymes, such as histone demethylases and acetyltransferases, are often added during reprogramming to loosen the chromatin, making the DNA more accessible to transcription factors. Molecules that inhibit histone...
Compact chromatin makes reprogramming difficult. Enzymes, such as histone demethylases and acetyltransferases, are often added during reprogramming to loosen the chromatin, making the DNA more accessible to transcription factors. Molecules that inhibit histone...
02:54Nucleosome Remodeling
Nucleosomes are the basic units of chromatin compaction. Each nucleosome consists of the DNA bound tightly around a histone core, which makes the DNA inaccessible to DNA binding proteins such as DNA polymerase and RNA polymerase. Hence, the fundamental problem is to ensure access to DNA when appropriate, despite the compact and protective chromatin structure.
Nucleosome remodeling complex
Eukaryotic cells have specialized enzymes called ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling enzymes. These enzymes...
Nucleosome remodeling complex
Eukaryotic cells have specialized enzymes called ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling enzymes. These enzymes...
02:33Combinatorial Gene Control
Combinatorial gene control is the synergistic action of several transcriptional factors to regulate the expression of a single gene. The absence of one or more of these factors may lead to a significant difference in the level of gene expression or repression.
The expression of more than 30,000 genes is controlled by approximately 2000-3000 transcription factors. This is possible because a single transcription factor can recognize more than one regulatory sequence. The specificity in gene...
The expression of more than 30,000 genes is controlled by approximately 2000-3000 transcription factors. This is possible because a single transcription factor can recognize more than one regulatory sequence. The specificity in gene...