From the Guidelines
Yamanaka factors are a set of four genes (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc) that can reprogram adult specialized cells back into stem cells, inducing a steady decline and complete resetting of the epigenetic age, respectively, through partial and full reprogramming 1. These factors work by resetting the cell's genetic program to an embryonic-like state, creating what are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
- Key characteristics of Yamanaka factors include:
- Ability to reprogram adult cells into stem cells
- Induction of embryonic genes while suppressing specialized cell functions
- Creation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)
- The reprogramming process takes approximately 2-4 weeks, during which cells gradually lose their specialized characteristics and gain the ability to develop into almost any cell type in the body, as observed in studies on epigenetic age and cellular reprogramming 1.
- Yamanaka factors have revolutionized stem cell research by providing an ethical alternative to embryonic stem cells and opening possibilities for personalized medicine, disease modeling, drug testing, and potential regenerative therapies.
- The process works because these factors are master regulators of gene expression that control cellular identity during early development, and their introduction into adult cells can reset the epigenetic age, as shown in studies on DNA methylation and cellular aging 1.
From the Research
Definition of Yamanaka Factors
- Yamanaka factors refer to a set of four transcription factors used to reprogram somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- These factors are: Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc, often abbreviated as OSKM 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Role of Yamanaka Factors in Reprogramming
- The introduction of these four transcription factors into somatic cells can induce pluripotency, allowing the cells to become similar to embryonic stem cells 2, 6.
- The process of reprogramming using Yamanaka factors has been shown to have potential applications in disease modeling, drug development, and regenerative medicine 2, 5.
Modifications and Substitutions of Yamanaka Factors
- Research has explored the use of substitutes for the original Yamanaka factors to improve the efficiency and safety of the reprogramming process 2, 3, 4.
- For example, studies have shown that Oct4 can be replaced by other factors such as NKX3-1 in mouse and human iPSC induction 4.
- Additionally, the combination of Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (SKM) has been found to be sufficient for reprogramming mouse somatic cells to iPSCs, without the need for Oct4 3.