ESC & iPSC News Volume 10.13 | Apr 8 2015

Structure-Based Discovery of NANOG Variant with Enhanced Properties to Promote Self-Renewal and Reprogramming of Pluripotent Stem Cells
Scientists determined the crystal structure of the human NANOG homeodomain bound to an OCT4 promoter DNA, which revealed amino acid residues involved in DNA recognition that are likely to be functionally important. Overexpression of the orthologous mouse NANOG mutants failed to maintain self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells without leukemia inhibitory factor. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

IGF-1 Signaling Plays an Important Role in the Formation of Three Dimensional Laminated Neural Retina and Other Ocular Structures from Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers report that insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) can orchestrate the formation of three dimensional ocular-like structures from human embryonic stem cells which, in addition to retinal pigmented epithelium and neural retina, also contain primitive lens and corneal-like structures. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 (Gsk-3) Plays a Fundamental Role in Maintaining DNA Methylation at Imprinted Loci in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
The authors describe a novel role for Gsk-3 in the regulation of DNA methylation at imprinted loci in mouse embryonic stem cells, suggesting that epigenetic changes regulated by Gsk-3 are likely an unrecognized facet of Gsk-3 signaling. [Mol Biol Cell] Abstract

Pig Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Neural Rosettes Developmentally Mimic Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Neural Differentiation
Researchers report that pig induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) can recapitulate events in early mammalian neural development. Pig iPSC line (POU5F1^high/SSEA4^low) had a higher potential to form neural rosettes containing neuroepithelial cells than either POU5F1^low/SSEA4^low or POU5F1^low/SSEA4^high lines. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

A Stable Chimeric Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) Can Successfully Replace Basic FGF in Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Culture
Scientists demonstrated that a heat-stable chimeric variant of FGF, termed FGFC, can be successfully used for maintaining human pluripotent stem cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

Mitomycin-Treated Undifferentiated Embryonic Stem Cells as a Safe and Effective Therapeutic Strategy in a Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease.
Investigators pre-treated undifferentiated mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) with the DNA alkylating agent mitomycin C (MMC) before transplantation. MMC treatment of cultures prevented tumor formation in a 12-week follow-up after mESCs were injected in nude mice. [Front Cell Neurosci]
Abstract | Download Full Article | Press Release

PDX1 Binds and Represses Hepatic Genes to Ensure Robust Pancreatic Commitment in Differentiating Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Scientists simulated pancreatic development by differentiating human embryonic stem cells into early pancreatic progenitors and subjected this cell population to pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX1) chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Emergence of a Stage-Dependent Human Liver Disease Signature with Directed Differentiation of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin-Deficient iPS Cells
Researchers developed a bioinformatic approach to detect differences between the genomic programs of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from diseased versus normal human cohorts as they emerged during in vitro directed differentiation. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the ESC & iPSC research field.

$10 Million Gift Establishes Center to Develop Personalized Medicine to Fight Cancer
A $10 million gift from entrepreneurs Emmet and Toni Stephenson and their daughter Tessa Stephenson Brand will further the pioneering efforts of Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) Professor David B. Agus, MD, to change the way cancer is viewed and treated and forge a path to personalized medicine. [Keck Medicine of USC] Press Release

From our sponsor: 3D intestinal organoid culture is made easy with IntestiCult™. Request a sample.

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Hospital Join Forces to Develop Cancer Drugs
The famed Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is making a major foray into more applied drug development. The lab and North Shore-LIJ Health System, a local hospital system, announced a new alliance and a more than $120 million investment aimed at moving basic cancer discoveries into the clinic. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the ESC & iPSC community.

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

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

PhD Position – Lineage Reprogramming (Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine)

Stem Cell Culture Scientist (Paramount Recruitment)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Stem Cells & Epigenetics (National Institutes of Health)

PhD Position – Early Human Brain Development Modeling with hiPSCs (University of Bonn)

Postdoctoral Position – Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells to Study Metabolism and Gene Expression Regulating Neural Tube Development (Joslin Diabetes Center)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Stem Cell Engineering (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)

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

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

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 60,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.