Disclosed herein are methods of generating induced pluripotent stem cells. The method involves providing a somatic or non-embryonic cell population, contacting the somatic or non-embryonic cell population with a quantity of at least one reprogramming factor, an agent that downmodulates SIRT2, and/or an agent that upmodulates SIRT1, and culturing the somatic or non-embryonic cells for a period of time sufficient to generate at least one induced pluripotent stem cell. Methods for differentiating a cell by upmodulating SIRT2 and/or downmodulating SIRT1 are also provided herein. Also disclosed are cell lines and pharmaceutical compositions generated by use of the methods.
