Embattled scientist Haruko Obokata has agreed to retract one of two STAP cell research papers from the journal Nature, but maintains she will not retract the other one, her lawyer said Wednesday.

It is the first time that the 30-year-old researcher from the state-backed Riken Institute has agreed to have a paper retracted in connection with the high-profile study that quickly drew questions and allegations of misconduct.

Obokata, who led the study into the stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency cells, and two other co-authors have given their consent to retract the paper, sources close to the matter said.