An inner nuclear membrane protein induces rapid differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells

The ability of iPSCs (induced pluripotent stem cells) to generate any cell type in the body makes them valuable tools for cell replacement therapies. However, differentiation of iPSCs can be demanding, slow and variable. During differentiation chromatin is re-organized and silent dense heterochromatin becomes tethered to the nuclear periphery by processes involving the nuclear lamina and proteins of the INM (inner nuclear membrane). The INM protein, Samp1 (Spindle Associated Membrane Protein 1) interacts with Lamin A/C and the INM protein Emerin, which has a chromatin binding LEM (Lap2-Emerin-Man1)-domain. In this paper we investigate if Samp1 can play a role in the differentiation of iPSCs. Samp1 levels increased as differentiating iPSCs started to express Lamin A/C. Interestingly, even under pluripotent culturing conditions, ectopic expression of Samp1 induced a rapid differentiation of iPSCs, of which some expressed the neuronal marker βIII-tubulin already after 6 days. This suggests that Samp1 is involved in early differentiation of iPSCs and could potentially be explored as a tool to promote progression of the differentiation process.