Jun Xu

TL;DR: It is shown that pluripotent stem cells can be generated from mouse somatic cells at a frequency up to 0.2% using a combination of seven small-molecule compounds, which resemble embryonic stem cells in terms of their gene expression profiles, epigenetic status, and potential for differentiation and germline transmission.

TL;DR: It is shown that a chemical cocktail enables the derivation of stem cells with unique functional and molecular features from mice and humans, designated as extended pluripotent stem (EPS) cells, which are capable of chimerizing both embryonic and extraembryonic tissues.

TL;DR: Recent advances in lineage reprograming are reviewed, including the identification of novel reprogramming factors, underlying molecular mechanisms, strategies for generating functionally mature cells, and assays for characterizing induced cells.

TL;DR: It is shown that mouse fibroblasts can be directly converted into neuronal cells using only a cocktail of small molecules, with a yield of up to >90% being TUJ1-positive after 16 days of induction.

TL;DR: It is demonstrated that functional human induced hepatocytes with drug metabolic function can be generated from fibroblasts by overexpressing the hepatic fate conversion factors HNF1A, HNF4A, and HNF6 along with the maturation factors ATF5, PROX1, and CEBPA.