ESC & iPSC News Volume 10.03 | Jan 28 2015

hnRNP K Coordinates Transcriptional Silencing by SETDB1 in Embryonic Stem Cells
Investigators identified the transcription co-factor heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNP K) as a novel binding partner of the SETDB1/KAP1 complex in mouse embryonic stem cells and show that hnRNP K is required for endogenous retrovirus silencing. [PLoS Genet] Full Article

Comparative Computational Analysis of Pluripotency in Human and Mouse Stem Cells
Researchers developed a pipeline to reanalyze transcriptomics data sets that describe both states, naive and primed pluripotency, in human and mouse. The pipeline consists of identifying regulated start-ups/shut-downs in terms of molecular interactions, followed by functional annotation of the genes involved and aggregation of results across conditions, yielding sets of mechanisms that are consistently regulated in transitions towards similar states of pluripotency. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation Requires Full Length Chd1
Scientists studied the effects of a partial deletion of the gene encoding the chromatin remodeling factor Chd1 that generates an N-terminally truncated version of Chd1 in mouse embryonic stem cells in vitro as well as in vivo. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Functional Comparison of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell- and Blood-Derived GPIIbIIIa Deficient Platelets
Researchers generated a human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) model of the primary platelet disease Glanzmann thrombasthenia, characterized by dysfunction of the integrin receptor GPIIbIIIa, and compared side-by-side healthy and diseased hiPSC-derived platelets with peripheral blood platelets. [PLoS One] Full Article

Derivation of Hair-Inducing Cell from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
The authors directed human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to generate first neural crest cells and then hair-inducing dermal papillae (DP) -like cells in culture. They showed that hESC-derived DP-like cells express markers typically found in adult human DP cells and are able to induce hair follicle formation when transplanted under the skin of immunodeficient NUDE mice. [PLoS One] Full Article | Press Release

Gene and MicroRNA Profiling of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Endothelial Cells
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) were differentiated into endothelial cells (ECs). Then the endothelial-related gene profiling and miRNA profiling of hiPSCs, hESCs, hiPSCs derived endothelial cells, hESC derived endothelial cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells were compared using RT-PCR Array. [Stem Cell Rev] Abstract

Synergistic Effects of Hypoxia and Morphogenetic Factors on Early Chondrogenic Commitment of Human Embryonic Stem Cells in Embryoid Body Culture
Scientists investigated the interactive effects of controlled variation of oxygen tension and chondrocyte-secreted morphogenetic factors on chondrogenic differentiation of human embryonic stem cells in the embryoid body format. [Stem Cell Rev] Abstract

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New Book Explores Current State of Regenerative Medicine
From offering new cancer-fighting options to re-growing damaged organs and nerves, regenerative techniques have a use in nearly every area of medicine.These diverse applications are explored in the new book Stem Cells, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, edited by David Warburton, director of Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine at The Saban Research Institute of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. [University of Southern California] Press Release

University of Oxford Named United Kingdom’s Global Health Front-Runner
Only a handful of U.K. universities are deeply involved in the fight to improve global health, according to a new ranking table released at the United Kingdom’s Houses of Parliament. The idea behind the list — which follows a similar ranking for U.S. and Canadian universities and another one for pharmaceutical companies — is to encourage spending on global health research and to increase the pressure on stragglers to step up their efforts. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

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Director (California Institute for Regenerative Medicine)

Postdoctoral Positions – Human Embryonic Stem Cells and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (University of Macau)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Wnt Signaling and Cell Polarity in Embryonic Development (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Research Technician – Skeletal Muscle Disorders with Human iPS Cells (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Pluripotent Stem Cells and Cartilage Biology (Boston Children’s Hospital)

PhD Studentship – Deciphering Mechanisms Underlying the Dysfunction of Motoneurons Derived from ALS Patient iPSCs (University of St. Andrews)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Stem Cell Models of Autism (University of South Carolina)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology and Reprogramming (Baylor College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow and Technician – Regenerative Medicine Using iPSC, Embryonic and Adult Stem Cells (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Postdoctoral Position – Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology and Cancer Research (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center)

Scientist – Reprogramming and Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology Endoderm Lineages (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Media Development, High Throughput Screening (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Cell Culture Support Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Immunology/Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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