Generation of pluripotent stem cells via protein transduction

The development of techniques for reprogramming somatic cells led to the birth of the cloned sheep "Dolly" and the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). iPSCs hold great promise for in vitro disease modeling, new drug screening, regenerative medicine and agricultural production. These cells can differentiate into almost any tissue types and they can be used to produce autografts that will not be rejected by the patient. However, practical application has been limited by the potential for insertion mutagenesis and by the complexity of the associated procedures. A protein-based approach to generation of iPSCs could offer better prospects by avoiding these problems. This review provides an overview of the key processes and mechanism involved in protein-based somatic cell reprogramming, discusses some promising methods for increasing its efficiency and future challenges.