Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 9, 2026

Efficient Generation Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Human Somatic Cells with Sendai-virus
Published on: April 23, 2014
Transdifferentiation of human somatic cells by ribosome
Naofumi Ito1,2,3, Mohammad Badrul Anam1,2,3, Shah Adil Ishtiyaq Ahmad1,2,4
1Department of Developmental Neurobiology, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
Abstract:
Ribosomes are intracellular organelles ubiquitous in all organisms, which translate information from mRNAs to synthesize proteins. They are complex macromolecules composed of dozens of proteins and ribosomal RNAs. Other than translation, some ribosomal proteins also have side-jobs called "Moonlighting" function. The majority of these moonlighting functions influence cancer progression, early development and differentiation. Recently, we discovered that ribosome is involved in the regulation of cellular transdifferentiation of human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). In vitro incorporation of ribosomes into HDFs arrests cell proliferation and induces the formation of cell clusters, that differentiate into three germ layer derived cells upon induction by differentiation mediums. The discovery of ribosome induced transdifferentiation, that is not based on genetic modification, find new possibilities for the treatment of cancer and congenital diseases, as well as to understand early development and cellular lineage differentiation.
Related Concept Videos
Ribosomes
Ribosome Structure and Assembly
Ribosomes are composed of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and proteins. In eukaryotes, rRNA is transcribed from genes in the nucleolus—a part of the nucleus that specializes in ribosome...
Ribosomes
Ribosome Structure and Assembly
Ribosomes are composed of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and proteins. In eukaryotes, rRNA is transcribed from genes in the nucleolus—a part of the nucleus that specializes in ribosome...
Forced Transdifferentiation
Artificial...
Ribosomal RNA Synthesis
Ribosome biogenesis begins with the synthesis of 5S and 45S pre-rRNAs by distinct RNA polymerases. The primary transcripts are extensively processed and modified before they are bound and folded by ribosomal proteins and assembly factors,...
Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell

