ESC & iPSC News Volume 10.07 | Feb 25 2015

Isogenic Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines from an Adult with Mosaic Down Syndrome Model Accelerated Neuronal Aging and Neurodegeneration
Scientists developed a first non-integration-reprogrammed isogenic human induced-pluripotent-stem-cells (iPSC) model of Down syndrome (DS) by reprogramming the skin fibroblasts from an adult individual with constitutional mosaicism for DS, and separately cloned multiple isogenic trisomy 21 and euploid iPSC lines. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Production of Gene-Corrected Adult Beta Globin Protein in Human Erythrocytes Differentiated from Patient iPSCs after Genome Editing of the Sickle Point Mutation
Investigators demonstrated that the CRISPR/Cas9 system designer nuclease is much more efficient in stimulating gene targeting of the endogenous HBB locus near the sickle cell disease point mutation in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) than ZFNs and TALENs. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Stable Maintenance of De Novo Assembled Human Artificial Chromosomes in Embryonic Stem Cells and Their Differentiated Progeny in Mice
Scientists transferred the alphoid^tetO-human artificial chromosome into mouse embryonic stem cells and assessed whether the presence of this extra chromosome affects their pluripotent properties. [Cell Cycle] Abstract

Cell Divisions Are Not Essential for the Direct Conversion of Fibroblasts into Neuronal Cells
Investigators used transdifferentiation of fibroblasts into neuronal cells by forced expression of defined transcription factors as a model system to study the role of cellular division in the direct conversion process. [Cell Cycle] Abstract

Dynamic Heterogeneity of DNA Methylation and Hydroxymethylation in Embryonic Stem Cell Populations Captured by Single-Cell 3D High-Content Analysis
Researchers assessed nuclear patterns of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, an important epigenetic mark, and its combination with 5-methylcytosine, in comparison to more established markers of pluripotency and endodermal differentiation in mouse embryonic stem cells over a ten-day differentiation course in vitro. [Exp Cell Res] Abstract

In Vitro Comparative Survey of Cell Adhesion and Proliferation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells on Surfaces of Polymeric Electrospun Nanofibrous and Solution-Cast Film Scaffolds
In vitro responses of human induced pluripotent stem cells on polycaprolactone electrospun nanofibrous scaffold were reported in comparison with those of the cells on corresponding solution-cast film scaffold. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract

SPREDs (Sprouty Related Proteins with EVH1 Domain) Promote Self-Renewal and Inhibit Mesodermal Differentiation in Murine Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers generated SPRED1 and SPRED2 overexpressing and SPRED2 knockout murine embryonic stem (ES) cells to analyze the functions of SPRED proteins in ES cells and during early differentiation. [Dev Dyn] Abstract

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Stem Cell ‘Tool’ Grants Given to Five Researchers
Five Stanford researchers were awarded grants of between $1 million and $2 million each by the state stem cell agency at its most recent board meeting. The awards were given through the agency’s “tools and technology” grant program, which encourages researchers to develop new methods and techniques to overcome stumbling blocks in the field. [Stanford Medicine] Press Release

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Nature to Let Potential Authors Try a Double-Blind Date
The marquee research journal Nature and almost all of its sister publications announced that they will offer authors the option of participating in double-blind peer review, where both submitters and referees remain anonymous. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

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Research Associate – Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies 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 Researcher – Quantitative Single-Cell Biology (Leiden University)

Research Associate – Human Pluripotent Stem Cells (University of Cambridge)

Principal Investigators – Cell & Developmental Biology (University of Dundee)

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

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

Senior Process Development Engineer (Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.)

Director – Vector Production (Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.)

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

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