Methods for reprogramming somatic cells
AssigneeWhitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
InventorsRudolf Jaenisch, Konrad Hochedlinger
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Abstract
The invention provides methods for reprogramming somatic cells to generate multipotent or pluripotent cells. Such methods are useful for a variety of purposes, including treating or preventing a medical condition in an individual. The invention further provides methods for identifying an agent that reprograms somatic cells to a less differentiated state.
Claims12
A primary somatic cell comprising in its genome a first endogenous pluripotency gene operably linked to DNA encoding a first selectable marker in such a manner that expression of the first selectable marker substantially matches expression of the first endogenous pluripotency gene, wherein the cell additionally comprises an exogenously introduced nucleic acid encoding a pluripotency protein and operably linked to at least one regulatory sequence, wherein the endogenous pluripotency gene is a gene that is expressed in a pluripotent embryonic stem cell, is required for the pluripotency of the embryonic stem cell, and is downregulated as the embryonic stem cell differentiates, and wherein the pluripotency protein is a protein expressed in a pluripotent embryonic stem cell, is required for the pluripotency of the embryonic stem cell, and is downregulated as the embryonic stem cell differentiates.
A primary somatic cell comprising in its genome a first endogenous pluripotency gene operably linked to DNA encoding a first selectable marker in such a manner that expression of the first selectable marker substantially matches expression of the first endogenous pluripotency gene, wherein the first endogenous pluripotency gene encodes Oct-4 or Nanog, and wherein the cell additionally comprises an exogenously introduced nucleic acid encoding Oct4, Nanog, or Sox2 and operably linked to at least one regulatory sequence.
A composition comprising:
- (i) a primary somatic cell comprising in its genome a first endogenous pluripotency gene operably linked to DNA encoding a first selectable marker in such a manner that expression of the first selectable marker substantially matches expression of the first endogenous pluripotency gene, and additionally comprising an exogenously introduced nucleic acid encoding Oct4, Nanog, or Sox2 and operably linked to at least one regulatory sequence;
- and
- (ii) a candidate agent of interest with respect to its potential to reprogram a somatic cell, wherein the first endogenous pluripotency gene encodes Oct4 or Nanog.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.