Deterministic direct reprogramming of somatic cells to pluripotency [RRBS]. Mus musculus

Somatic cells can be directly reprogrammed to pluripotency by exogenous expression of transcription factors, classically Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc. While distinct types of somatic cells can be reprogramed with varying efficiencies and by different modified reprogramming protocols, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) induction remains inefficient and stochastic where a fraction of the cells converts into iPSCs. The nature of rate limiting barrier(s) preventing majority of cells to convert into iPSCs remains elusive. Here we show that neutralizing Mbd3, a core member of the Mbd3/NURD co-repressor and chromatin-remodeling complex, results in deterministic and synchronized reprogramming of multiple differentiated cell types to pluripotency. 100% of Mbd3 depleted mouse and human somatic cells convert into iPSCs after seven days of reprogramming factor induction. Our findings delineate a critical pathway blocking the reestablishment of pluripotency, and offer a novel platform for future dissection of epigenetic dynamics leading to iPSC formation at high resolution. Overall design: Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) was applied to mouse iPS cells and mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) before and after DOX induction (initiating reprogramming by OSKM factors) from randomly selected Mbd3+/+ and Mbd3flox/- clonal cell line series. Polyclonal donor cell cultures were harvested at days 0,4 and 8 after DOX reprogramming without selection or sorting for any marker or passaging, and mapped for similarity to subcloned iPSC lines.