ESC & iPSC News Volume 10.23 | Jun 17 2015

DAZL Regulates Tet1 Translation in Murine Embryonic Stem Cells
The authors demonstrated that DAZL, an RNA‐binding protein known to play a key role in germ‐cell development, marked a subpopulation of embryonic stem cells that are actively transitioning toward naïve pluripotency. [EMBO Rep] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Dynamic Proteomic Profiling of Extra-Embryonic Endoderm Differentiation in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
Through functional annotation enrichment analysis, investigators showed that the downregulation of chromatin-modifying enzymes, the re-organization of membrane trafficking machinery and the breakdown of cell-cell adhesion were successive steps of the extra-embryonic differentiation process. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Core Pluripotency Factors Directly Regulate Metabolism in Embryonic Stem Cell to Maintain Pluripotency
Researchers found that core pluripotency factors regulated glycolysis directly by controlling the expression of glycolytic enzymes. Specifically, Oct4 directly governed hexokinase 2 and pyruvate kinase M2, which were important glycolytic enzymes that determined the rate of glycolytic flux. [Stem Cells] Abstract

A Cost-Effective and Efficient Reprogramming Platform for Large-Scale Production of Integration-Free Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Chemically Defined Culture
The authors describe an optimization procedure that enabled a single technician to make 20–40 human induced pluripotent stem cell lines at a time in a 24–96 well format in a reliable and reproducible fashion. [Sci Rep] Full Article

BAF250a Regulates Nucleosome Occupancy and Histone Modifications in Priming Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation
Investigators characterized the function of BAF250a, a key regulatory subunit of the embryonic stem cells (ESCs) ATP-dependent BAF chromatin remodeling complex. Acute deletion of BAF250a disrupted the differentiation potential of ESCs by altering the expression timing of key developmental genes and pluripotent genes. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

Derivation of a Homozygous Human Androgenetic Embryonic Stem Cell Line
A diploid human androgenetic embryonic stem cell line was established, which exhibited typical features of human embryonic stem cells, including the expression of pluripotency markers, having differentiation potential in vitro and in vivo, and stable propagation in an undifferentiated state. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Clonal Analysis of Individual Human Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation Patterns in Microfluidic Cultures
The authors developed a microfluidic device that supported the robust generation of colonies derived from single embryonic stem cells. This microfluidic system contained 160 individually addressable chambers equipped for perfusion culture of individual human embryonic stem cells that could be shown to match the growth rates, marker expression and colony morphologies obtained in conventional cultures. [Biotechnol J] Abstract

Improved Hematopoietic Differentiation of Primate Embryonic Stem Cells by Inhibition of the PI3K-AKT Pathway under Defined Conditions
Investigators developed a novel and efficient method for differentiating common marmoset embryonic stem cells (CM ESCs) into hematopoietic cells by transiently inhibiting the PI3K-AKT pathway, a critical pathway that maintains the undifferentiated state of CM ESCs during embryoid body formation. [Exp Hematol] Abstract

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STEMCELL Technologies Named Company of the Year by BIOTECanada
STEMCELL Technologies Inc. was presented with the Biotech Company of the Year award by BIOTECanada at this year’s BIO International Convention in Philadelphia. [BIOTECanada] Press Release

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US ‘Export Rules’ Threaten Research
The US government is considering policy changes that could dramatically affect how researchers handle equipment and information that have national-security implications. Among other impacts, scientists would need to reconsider what they can discuss with graduate students from other countries, or when travelling abroad on work trips. [Nature News] Editorial

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NEW Stem Cell Scientist (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency)

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

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neurology (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)

PhD position – Molecular Biology and DNA Demethylation (Institute of Molecular Biology Mainz)

Postdoctoral Position – Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency and Self-Renewal (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences )

Postdoctoral Positions – Cancer, Stem Cell, and Developmental Biology (Columbia University Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow Positions – iPSC Research and Banking (University of Magna Graecia)

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

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