A non-integrating, self-replicating RNA reprogramming vector for generating iPS cells.

ReproRNA™-OKSGM is a single-stranded RNA replicon vector that contains five reprogramming factors: OCT4, KLF-4, SOX2, GLIS1, and c-MYC, as well as a puromycin-resistance gene. This RNA vector reprograms somatic cells, such as fibroblasts, into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells with high efficiency and only requires a single transfection step. When used together with ReproTeSR™ reprogramming medium, the generation of iPS cell colonies can be achieved under feeder-free conditions with superior colony morphology and similar reprogramming efficiency to feeder-based systems. ReproRNA™-derived iPS cell colonies also express markers of undifferentiated cells and retain a normal karyotype. Subsequently, iPS cells generated with ReproRNA™-OKSGM can be maintained in TeSR™ maintenance media (mTeSR™1, TeSR™2, or TeSR™-E8™) and further differentiated into cells of all three germ layers.