(a-c) Reprogramming is more efficient after MBd enrichment. Differentiated cells (dH1f) and embryonic fibroblasts (IMR90) are reprogrammed after stable expression of either NBR1 shRNA or shNT. Emerging iPSC colonies are scored on the basis of TRA-1-60 expression. Cells depleted of NBR1 to increase MBd levels show an increase in iPSC colony formation (a,b, dH1f, 3.1±0.5-fold, n=15, P=0.00035; IMR90, 3.4±0.8-fold, n=3, P=0.02; data are mean±s.e.m.) but insignificant changes in autophagic activity (c) over shNT control. (b) Representative plates with TRA-1-60-immunostained iPSC colonies. The immunoblot (c, top) and densitometry (c, bottom; percentage of autophagic flux) show representative results (n=3); α-tubulin, loading control. 