Activin/Nodal Signaling and NANOG Orchestrate Human Embryonic Stem Cell Fate Decisions by Controlling the H3K4me3 Chromatin Mark Investigators used human embryonic stem cells to show that the Activin-SMAD2/3 signaling pathway cooperates with the core pluripotency factor NANOG to recruit the DPY30-COMPASS histone modifiers onto key developmental genes. [Genes Dev] Abstract Generation and Expansion of Highly Pure Motor Neuron Progenitors from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells By using a combination of small molecules that regulate multiple signaling pathways, scientists developed a method to guide human embryonic stem cells to a near-pure population of motor neuron progenitors in 12 days, and an enriched population of functionally mature motorneurons in an additional 16 days. [Nat Commun] Abstract Differential Association of Chromatin Proteins Identifies BAF60a/SMARCD1 as a Regulator of Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation Using differential chromatin-associated protein, investigators identified several differentially chromatin-associated proteins between undifferentiated and differentiated embryonic stem cells, including the chromatin remodeling protein SMARCD1. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Actl6a Protects Embryonic Stem Cells from Differentiating into Primitive Endoderm Researchers provide the first evidence that actin-like protein 6A (Actl6a) can protect mouse embryonic stem cells from differentiating into primitive endoderm. [Stem Cells] Abstract Pluripotency Activity of Nanog Requires Biochemical Stabilization by Variant Histone Protein H2A.Z Investigators established that the variant histone protein H2A.z and Nanog work together to maintain pluripotency. It is shown that H2A.Z influences the protein level of Nanog through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. [Stem Cells] Abstract Novel Role of Mitochondrial Manganese Superoxide Dismutase in STAT3 Dependent Pluripotency of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Scientists investigated the effect of small molecule curcumin on various signaling pathways essential for self-renewal. Curcumin sustained the leukemia inhibitory factor independent self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells in a signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activity dependent manner. [Sci Rep] Full Article A Paracrine Mechanism Accelerating Expansion of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Hepatic Progenitor-Like Cells Researchers focused on the cell surface molecules of human iPS cell-derived hepatic progenitor-like cells and analyzed how these molecules modulate expansion of these cells. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract Properties of Neurons Derived from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells of Gaucher Disease Type 2 Patient Fibroblasts: Potential Role in Neuropathology To understand the pathogenesis of the neuronopathic Gaucher disease (GD), induced pluripotent stem cells were generated from fibroblasts isolated from three GD type 2 and two unaffected individuals. [PLoS One] Full Article Selective MicroRNA-Offset RNA Expression in Human Embryonic Stem Cells In order to gain additional knowledge about human microRNA-offset RNAs and their putative development-related expression, investigators applied next generation sequencing of small RNAs in human embryonic stem cells and fibroblasts. [PLoS One] Full Article |