SWI/SNF Chromatin Remodeling Complex: A New Cofactor in Reprogramming

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells can be derived from somatic cells. Four key factors are required in this process including Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc. Ectopic expression of these four factors in somatic cells leads to reprogramming. Recent studies show that the SWItch/Sucrose NonFermentable (SWI/SNF) chromatin remodeling complex plays critical roles in reprogramming of somatic cells and maintaining the pluripotency of stem cells. The possible mechanism is that SWI/SNF enhances the binding activity of reprogramming factors to pluripotent gene promoters and thus increases the reprogramming efficiency. Here, we review these recent advances and discuss how SWI/SNF plays a role in reprogramming. Understanding this mechanism will be helpful to find out the detail of reprogramming, which may provide a new therapy in medical science by generating patient-specific pluripotent stem cells.