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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2026

The Production of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Mouse Amniotic Fluid Cells Using a Transposon System

The Production of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Mouse Amniotic Fluid Cells Using a Transposon System

Published on: February 28, 2017

BMPs functionally replace Klf4 and support efficient reprogramming of mouse fibroblasts by Oct4 alone.

Jiekai Chen¹, Jing Liu, Jiaqi Yang

¹Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China.

|December 8, 2010

Summary

Klf4 initiates cell reprogramming, but bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) can replace its function. BMPs significantly enhance induced pluripotent stem cell generation, establishing Oct4 as a key factor in cell fate determination.

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Last Updated: Jun 6, 2026

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Published on: February 28, 2017

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Cell Surface Marker Mediated Purification of iPS Cell Intermediates from a Reprogrammable Mouse Model

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Published on: September 6, 2014

Area of Science:

Stem cell biology
Epigenetics and cell reprogramming
Developmental biology

Background:

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are generated using defined factors, offering a model for studying reprogramming and cell fate.
The exact mechanisms of factor-mediated reprogramming remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the specific role of Klf4 in the reprogramming process.
To investigate the potential of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) as functional replacements for Klf4.
To enhance the efficiency of induced pluripotent stem cell generation.

Main Methods:

Utilized defined factors for induced pluripotent stem cell generation.
Investigated the role of Klf4 in initiating mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition.
Assessed the impact of BMPs on reprogramming efficiency using mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and tail tibial fibroblasts.
Examined Oct4/Sox2-mediated and single-factor Oct4-based reprogramming.

Main Results:

Klf4 primarily functions in the initial reprogramming phase, driving mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition.
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) can functionally substitute for Klf4.
BMPs increased the efficiency of Oct4/Sox2-mediated reprogramming of MEFs to approximately 1%.
BMPs also promoted Oct4-based reprogramming of MEFs and tail tibial fibroblasts.

Conclusions:

The contribution of Klf4 to cellular reprogramming has been clarified.
Oct4 is established as a crucial factor for inducing pluripotency in differentiated cells.
BMPs represent a promising strategy for enhancing reprogramming efficiency.