title: Nuclear reprogramming.
abstract: There is currently particular interest in the field of nuclear reprogramming, a process by which the identity of specialised cells may be changed, typically to an embryonic-like state. Reprogramming procedures provide insight into many mechanisms of fundamental cell biology and have several promising applications, most notably in healthcare through the development of human disease models and patient-specific tissue-replacement therapies. Here, we introduce the field of nuclear reprogramming and briefly discuss six of the procedures by which reprogramming may be experimentally performed: nuclear transfer to eggs or oocytes, cell fusion, extract treatment, direct reprogramming to pluripotency and transdifferentiation.
authors.affiliation: The Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK. rph32@cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Richard P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Halley-Stott
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pasque
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Gurdon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D049469:Meiotic Prophase I; D008677:Metaphase; D053652:Nuclear Transfer Techniques; D010063:Ovum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
keywords: Cell fusion; Induced pluripotency; Nuclear transfer; Pluripotent; Reprogramming; Transdifferentiation