Identification of a small molecule that turns ON the pluripotency gene circuitry in human fibroblasts

ACS Chem Biol. 2014 Dec 19;9(12):2729-36. doi: 10.1021/cb500724t. Epub 2014 Nov 4.

Abstract

A nontransgenic approach to reprogram mouse somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells using only small molecules got achieved to propose a potential clinical-friendly cellular reprogramming strategy. Consequently, the screening and identification of small molecules capable of inducing pluripotency genes in human cells are increasingly a focus of research. Because cellular reprogramming is multifactorial in nature, there is a need for versatile small molecules capable of modulating the complicated gene networks associated with pluripotency. We have developed a targeting small molecule called SAHA-PIP comprising the histone deacetylase inhibitor SAHA and the sequence-specific DNA binding pyrrole-imidazole polyamides for modulating distinct gene networks. Here, we report the identification of a SAHA-PIP termed Ì that could trigger genome-wide epigenetic reprogramming and turn ON the typically conserved core pluripotency gene network. Through independent lines of evidence, we report for the first time a synthetic small molecule inducer that target and activate the OCT-3/4 regulated pluripotency genes in human dermal fibroblasts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cellular Reprogramming*
  • Chromatin / drug effects
  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects*
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Regulatory Networks / drug effects
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nylons / chemical synthesis
  • Nylons / pharmacology*
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / genetics
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / metabolism
  • Pyrroles / chemical synthesis
  • Pyrroles / pharmacology*
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemical synthesis
  • Small Molecule Libraries / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Chromatin
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
  • Nylons
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3
  • Pou5f1 protein, mouse
  • Pyrroles
  • SAHA-PIP-delta
  • Small Molecule Libraries