Detection of human somatic cell reprogramming

A method for identifying a fully reprogrammed iPS cell from a culture of cells, the method comprising:

• (a) contacting a somatic cell induced to reprogram, or its progeny, with a plurality of detectably labeled binding moieties that bind at least one of Rex1, DNMT3B, and/or ABCG2 expressed by a cell in the culture;
• and
• (c) detecting the binding of one or more of the moieties to the cell, or its progeny, to the at least one of Rex1, DNMT3B, and/or ABCG2 expressed by a cell in the culture;
• wherein the presence of the at least one of Rex1, DNMT3B, and/or ABCG2 indicates a fully reprogrammed cell.

A method for screening for an agent that promotes reprogramming, the method comprising:

• (a) contacting a somatic cell with a plurality of detectably labeled moieties that bind at least one of Rex1, DNMT3B, and/or ABCG2 expressed by a cell in the culture, in the presence and absence of a candidate reprogramming agent;
• and
• (c) detecting the degree of cell labeling with one or more of the detectably labeled moieties of the at least one of Rex1, DNMT3B, and/or ABCG2;
• wherein if the level of expression of the at least one of Rex1, DNMT3B, and/or ABCG2 in the presence of the agent is higher compared to the level of the at least one of Rex1, DNMT3B, and/or ABCG2 in the absence of the agent, the agent enhances reprogramming.