Embryonic Stem Cells Induce Pluripotency in Somatic Cell Fusion through Biphasic Reprogramming Investigators examine how trans– versus cis-silenced genes in a somatic cell type behave in fusions to another somatic cell type or to embryonic stem cells. [Mol Cell] Abstract Dynamic HoxB4 Regulatory Network during Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation to Hematopoietic Cells Researchers performed global gene expression profiling and chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with deep sequencing at four stages of the HoxB4-mediated embryonic stem cell differentiation towards hematopoietic cells. [Blood] Abstract HIF1α Induced Switch from Bivalent to Exclusively Glycolytic Metabolism during ESC-to-EpiSC/Human ESC Transition Researchers show that hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) is sufficient to drive embryonic stem cells (ESC) to a glycolytic Activin/Nodal-dependent epiblast stem cell (EpiSC)-like stage. [EMBO J] Abstract | Press Release Mutant Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines Recapitulate Aspects of TDP-43 Proteinopathies and Reveal Cell-Specific Vulnerability Researchers report the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells that carry the transactive response DNA-binding (TDP-43) M337V mutation and their differentiation into neurons and functional motor neurons. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release Combining Competition Assays with Genetic Complementation Strategies to Dissect Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Self-Renewal and Pluripotency To gain a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating mouse embryonic stem cell self-renewal and lineage differentiation, researchers have developed a robust method for studying the role of a particular gene in these processes. [Nat Protoc] Abstract The Promotion of Hepatic Maturation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells in 3D Co-Culture Using Type I Collagen and Swiss 3T3 Cell Sheets Hepatic maturation of human embryonic stem cell- or human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells by three-dimensional (3D) co-culture systems has not been examined. Researchers utilized a cell sheet engineering technology to promote hepatic maturation. [Biomaterials] Abstract Pluripotent Stem Cell-Engineered Cell Sheets Re-Assembled with Defined Cardiovascular Populations Ameliorate Reduction in Infarct Heart Function through Cardiomyocyte-Mediated Neovascularization Investigators show the potentials and mechanisms of cardiac tissue sheet transplantation in cardiac function after myocardial infarction. [Stem Cells] Abstract Hybridization of Testis-Derived Stem Cells with Somatic Cells and Embryonic Stem Cells in Mice Hybrids were successfully obtained between germline stem (GS) cells and embryonic stem cells, between GS cells and multipotent GS (mGS) cells, and between mGS cells and thymocytes. [Biol Reprod] Abstract |