Towards understanding transcriptional networks in cellular reprogramming

Abstract

Most of the knowledge we have on the molecular mechanisms of transcription factor mediated reprogramming comes from studies conducted in induced pluripotency. Recently however, a few studies investigated the mechanisms of cellular reprogramming in direct and indirect transdifferentiation, which allows us to explore whether shared parallel mechanisms can be drawn. Moreover, there are currently several computational tools that have been developed to predict and enhance the reprogramming process by reconstructing the transcriptional networks of reprogramming cells. These new tools have the potential to greatly benefit the field of reprogramming, providing us with new approaches that can transform our understanding of the initiation, progression and successful completion of cellular fate transition.