A Genomic Toolkit to Investigate Kinesin and Myosin Motor Function in Cells Researchers generated a library of 243 amino- and carboxy-terminally tagged mouse and human bacterial artificial chromosome transgenes to establish 227 stably transfected HeLa cell lines, 15 mouse embryonic stem cell lines and 1 transgenic mouse line. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract Naive Pluripotency Is Associated with Global DNA Hypomethylation The authors investigated whether differences exist between embryonic stem cells and embryonic germ cells, in view of their distinct developmental origins. [Nat Struct Mol Biol] Abstract Critical Regulation of miR-200/ZEB2 Pathway in Oct4/Sox2-Induced Mesenchymal-to-Epithelial Transition and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Generation Fibroblasts can be reprogrammed to induced pluripotent stem cells by application of transcription factors octamer-binding protein 4 (Oct4), SRY-box containing gene 2 (Sox2), Kruppel-like factor 4, and c-Myelocytomatosis oncogene (OSKM), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Researchers report that exogenous Oct4 and Sox2 can bind at the promoter regions of microRNA (mir)-141/200c and mir-200a/b/429 cluster, respectively, and induce the transcription activation of miR-200 family during the OSKM-induced reprogramming. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract Oct4 and Canonical Wnt Signaling Regulate the Cardiac Lineage Factor Mesp1 through a Tcf/Lef-Oct4 Composite Element Scientists identified a Tcf/Lef-Oct4 composite site in the promoter of the cardiac mesoderm gene Mesp1, with a nucleotide sequence identical to the previously established Sox2-Oct4 composite site. This Tcf/Lef-Oct4 composite site mediated synergistic activation of the Mesp1 promoter by Oct4 and canonical Wnt signaling. In ZHBTc4 murine embryonic stem cells, the loss of Oct4 during differentiation impaired Mesp1 expression and the development of the cardiac program. [Stem Cells] Abstract Connexin 43 Is Involved in the Generation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells The connexin expression profiles in human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and the role of connexins in the process of reprogramming back to iPS cells remains unknown. Investigators determined the expression levels of most forms of connexin in human embryonic fibroblasts (hEFs) and in the hEF-derived iPS cells. [Hum Mol Genet] Abstract Structural Complexity of Non-Acid Glycosphingolipids in Human Embryonic Stem Cells Grown Under Feeder-Free Conditions To bring human embryonic stem cells into clinical applications, their cell surface antigen expression and its chemical structural complexity have to be defined. In the present study total non-acid glycosphingolipid fractions were isolated from two human embryonic stem cell lines (SA121 and SA181) originating from left over in vitro fertilized human embryos, using large amounts of starting material (1×109 cells per cell line). [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article Generation of Functional Platelets from Canine Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells The authors report the generation of canine induced pluripotent stem cells (ciPSCs) from canine embryonic fibroblasts, and a novel protocol for creating mature megakaryocytes and functional platelets from ciPSCs. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract Novel Pancreatic Endocrine Maturation Pathways Identified by Genomic Profiling and Causal Reasoning Researchers showed that the embryonic stem cell differentiation protocol is highly reproducible in producing endocrine precursor cells and generates cells that recapitulate many aspects of human embryonic pancreas development, including maturation into functional endocrine cells when transplanted into recipient animals. [PLoS One] Full Article Exploring Biological Processes Involved in Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation by Analyzing Proteomics Data The authors used time-course proteomic data of a twenty day differentiation study of embryonic stem cells differentiating to embryoid bodies. Hierarchical clustering was used to cluster time-series concentration profile of proteins. Results demonstrated that there are eleven active processes with distinct concentration profiles in this initial differentiation. [Biochim Biophys Acta] Abstract Neural Progenitors Derived from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Survive and Differentiate Upon Transplantation into a Rat Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Investigators analyzed the fate of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neural progenitors transplanted into the spinal cord of wild-type and transgenic rats carrying a human mutated SOD1(G93A) gene. The aim was to follow survival and differentiation of human neural progenitors until day 60 post-transplantation in two different in vivo environments, one being amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-like. iPSC-derived neural progenitors efficiently engrafted in the adult spinal cord and survived at high numbers. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release |