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Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Kinetic Measurement and Real Time Visualization of Somatic Reprogramming
Published on: July 30, 2016
E-cadherin is crucial for embryonic stem cell pluripotency and can replace OCT4 during somatic cell reprogramming
Torben Redmer1, Sebastian Diecke, Tamara Grigoryan
1Max Delbrueck Center, Robert-Roessle-Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany; Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Takustrasse 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
Abstract:
We report new functions of the cell-adhesion molecule E-cadherin in murine pluripotent cells. E-cadherin is highly expressed in mouse embryonic stem cells, and interference with E-cadherin causes differentiation. During cellular reprogramming of mouse fibroblasts by OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and c-MYC, fully reprogrammed cells were exclusively observed in the E-cadherin-positive cell population and could not be obtained in the absence of E-cadherin. Moreover, reprogrammed cells could be established by viral E-cadherin in the absence of exogenous OCT4. Thus, reprogramming requires spatial cues that cross-talk with essential transcription factors. The cell-adhesion molecule E-cadherin has important functions in pluripotency and reprogramming.
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