ESC & iPSC News Volume 10.04 | Feb 4 2015

Novel Codon-Optimized Mini-Intronic Plasmid for Efficient, Inexpensive, and Xeno-Free Induction of Pluripotency
Researchers developed a single plasmid reprogramming system which carries codon-optimized sequences of the canonical reprogramming factors (Oct4, Klf4, Sox2, and c-Myc) and short hairpin RNA against p53. They derived human and mouse induced pluripotent stem cell lines from fibroblasts by performing a single transfection. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Micropattern Size-Dependent Endothelial Differentiation from a Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Line
Investigators examined the hypothesis that the diameter of micropatterned islands influences endothelial differentiation from human induced pluripotent stem cells. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract

Cdx2 Efficiently Induces Trophoblast Stem-Like Cells in Naïve, but Not Primed, Pluripotent Stem Cells
Researchers compared the capacity of mouse embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, embryonal carcinoma cells, and epiblast stem cells to form trophoblasts. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

β2-Adrenoreceptor-Mediated Proliferation Inhibition of Embryonic Pluripotent Stem Cells
Investigators identified a β2-adrenoreceptor/AC/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway in embryonic pluripotent stem cells and found that the pathway stimulation inhibited proliferation and cell cycle progression involving modulating the stem cell growth and cycle regulatory machinery. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Human iPS Cell-Derived Insulin Producing Cells Form Vascularized Organoids under the Kidney Capsules of Diabetic Mice
Using a series of pancreatic growth factors, scientists successfully generated induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells derived insulin producing cells. To investigate the capability of these cells to secrete insulin in vivo, the differentiated cells were transplanted under the kidney capsules of diabetic immunodeficient mice. [PLoS One] Full Article | Press Release

Early Intervention for Spinal Cord Injury with Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Oligodendrocyte Progenitors
Scientists demonstrate for the first time that oligodendrocyte progenitors can be derived from induced pluripotent stem cells generated using either an episomal, non-integrating plasmid approach or standard integrating retroviruses that survive and differentiate into mature oligodendrocytes after early transplantation into the injured spinal cord. [PLoS One] Full Article

Stable X Chromosome Reactivation in Female Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
To investigate whether reprogramming of female human fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells leads to reactivation of the inactive X chromosome, researchers generated induced pluripotent stem cell lines from fibroblasts heterozygous for large X-chromosomal deletions. [Stem Cell Reports]
Full Article | Graphical Abstract

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San Diego Team Wins $1.7 Million Grant from Stem Cell Agency to Develop Quality Control Methods
A team at The Scripps Research Institute has won a $1,784,000 grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. The funding will support the development of a new method for detecting DNA damage in stem cells to ensure that only the highest quality cells are used in transplantation or therapy. [The Scripps Research Institute] Press Release

Cord Blood Registry Announces Formation of Scientific & Medical Advisory Board
Cord Blood Registry^® (CBR^®) announced the establishment of a Scientific and Medical Advisory Board (SMAB). Composed of internationally renowned stem cell experts, the SMAB will provide input and guidance to help advance CBR’s mission to expand the scope of newborn stem cell therapies that may be available to patients and their families. [Cord Blood Registry^®] Press Release

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Obama Budget Seeks Big Boost for Science
When US President Barack Obama released his budget proposal, he gave scientists and engineers a ray of hope — albeit one that is almost certain to be dimmed, if not extinguished. Obama’s $4 trillion plan for fiscal year 2016 includes $146 billion for scientific research and development, a healthy 6% increase for a portfolio split roughly evenly between defense and civilian programs. [Nature News] Editorial

U.K. Parliament Approves Controversial Three-Parent Mitochondrial Gene Therapy
The United Kingdom’s House of Commons voted overwhelmingly to allow British researchers to pursue a new fertility treatment that could prevent certain kinds of genetic diseases. The technique, called mitochondrial DNA replacement therapy, could allow women who carry disease-causing mutations in their mitochondrial genes to give birth to genetically related children free of mitochondrial disease. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

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NEW Research Engineer – Reproductive Stem Cell Biology (Karolinska Institute)

NEW Graduate Research Assistantship – Reprogramming Fibroblasts into Functional Cardiomyocytes (Utah State University)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSCs) and the Peripheral Nervous System (Inserm)

NEW Senior Process Development Engineer (Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.)

NEW Director – Vector Production (Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.)

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.)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Stem Cell and Developmental Biology (University of Copenhagen)

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)

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)

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