Pramef12 enhances reprogramming into naïve iPS cells

Somatic cells can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells by forced expression of the transcription factors Oct3/4, Klf4, Sox2, and c-Myc (OKSM). Somatic cell nuclear transfer can also be utilized to reprogram somatic cells into totipotent embryos, suggesting that factors present in oocytes potentially enhance the efficiency of iPS cell generation. Here, we showed that preferentially expressed antigen of melanoma family member 12 (Pramef12), which is highly expressed in oocytes, enhances the generation of iPS cells from mouse fibroblasts. Overexpression of Pramef12 during the early phase of OKSM-induced reprogramming enhanced the efficiency of iPS cell derivation. In addition, overexpression of Pramef12 also enhanced expression of naïve pluripotency-associated genes, Gtl2 located within the Dlk1–Dio3 imprinted region essential for full pluripotency, glycolysis-associated genes, and oxidative phosphorylation-associated genes, and it promoted mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition during iPS cell generation. Furthermore, Pramef12 greatly activated β-catenin during iPS cell generation. These observations suggested that Pramef12 enhances OKSM-induced reprogramming via activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.