title: Tbx3: another important piece fitted into the pluripotent stem cell puzzle.
abstract: Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are novel tools for biomedical research, with a promise for future regenerative medicine applications. Recently, Han and colleagues reported in Nature that T box gene 3 (Tbx3) can improve the quality of mouse iPSCs and increase their germline transmission efficacy. This observation contributes greatly to the improvement of iPSC technology and might be a step towards 'designer' reprogramming strategies by generating high quality iPSCs. Further studies comparing pluripotency regulation in different species, including that in human, will be necessary to verify the universal role of Tbx3 and the medical relevance of the observation.
authors.forename: Melinda K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Pirity
authors.forename: Andras
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dinnyes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D058539:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; C491460:Tbx3 protein, mouse; D058539:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt