Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Recipe for cell reprogramming adds protein

Source: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
Date: August 6, 2008

Summary:

A drug-like molecule called Wnt can be substituted for the cancer gene c-Myc, one of four genes added to adult cells to reprogram them to an embryonic-stem-cell-like state, according to Whitehead researchers. Researchers hope that such embryonic stem-cell-like cells, known as induced pluripotent (IPS) cells, eventually may treat diseases such as Parkinson's disease and diabetes.