ESC & iPSC News Volume 10.24 | Jun 24 2015

Epigenetic Regulation of Phosphodiesterases 2A and 3A Underlies Compromised β-Adrenergic Signaling in an iPSC Model of Dilated Cardiomyopathy
The authors found that the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol induced mature β-adrenergic signaling in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) but that this pathway was blunted in dilated cardiomyopathy iPSC-CMs. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

The Nucleoporin Nup153 Regulates Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency through Gene Silencing
Investigators showed that depletion of Nup153 in mouse embryonic stem cells caused the derepression of developmental genes and induction of early differentiation. This loss of stem cell identity was not associated with defects in the nuclear import of key pluripotency factors. [Genes Dev] Abstract

Generation of Fertile Offspring from Kit^w/Kit^wv Mice through Differentiation of Gene Corrected Nuclear Transfer Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers derived embryonic stem cells from cloned embryos (ntESCs) that were created by nuclear transfer of Kit^w/Kit^wv somatic cells. Then they generated gene-corrected ntESCs using TALEN-mediated gene editing. [Cell Res] Abstract

A Cytotoxic Antibody Recognizing Lacto-N-Fucopentaose I (LNFP I) on Human Induced Pluripotent Stem (hiPS) Cells
The authors generated a mouse monoclonal antibody (R-17F, IgG1 subtype) specific to hiPS/embryonic stem cells by using a hiPS cell line as an antigen. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

Generation of Human iPSC from Cells of Fibroblastic and Epithelial Origin by Means of the oriP/EBNA-1 Episomal Reprogramming System
Researchers performed a side-by-side comparison of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) colony forming efficiencies in fibroblasts and epithelial cells transiently transfected with episomal plasmids, and demonstrated that iPSC generation efficiency was highest when donor samples were derived from epithelial cells. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Combined Negative Effect of Donor Age and Time in Culture on the Reprogramming Efficiency into Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Human fibroblasts from 11 different donors of variable age were reprogrammed by ectopic expression of reprogramming factors. Although all fibroblasts gave rise to induced pluripotent stem cell colonies, the reprogramming efficiency correlated negatively and declined rapidly with increasing donor age. [Stem Cell Res] Full Article

Tetraploid Embryonic Stem Cells Maintain Pluripotency and Differentiation Potency into Three Germ Layers
Investigators established tetraploid embryonic stem cells (TESCs) produced from the inner cell masses of tetraploid blastocysts using electrofusion of two-cell embryos in mice and studied the developmental potential of TESCs. They demonstrated that TESCs possessed essential pluripotency and differentiation potency to form teratomas, which differentiated into the three germ layers, including diploid embryonic stem cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

Tbx3 Controls Dppa3 Levels and Exit from Pluripotency toward Mesoderm
Scientists showed that mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) existed in an alternate stable pluripotent state in the absence of Tbx3. In-depth transcriptome analysis of this mESC state revealed Dppa3 as a direct downstream target of Tbx3. [Stem Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Combined Negative Effect of Donor Age and Time in Culture on the Reprogramming Efficiency into Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
The authors discuss the recent discoveries of mouse and human transient states from inner cell mass to embryonic stem cells and their relation towards the state of pluripotency in the eventual stem cells, being naïve or primed. [Hum Reprod Update] Abstract

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

GSK to Create Independent Research Institute with Goal of Radically Changing and Improving Medicines Development
GSK announced that it is making a substantial investment to launch the Altius Institute for Biomedical Sciences, an independent, non-profit research institute. GSK expects to capitalize on rapid progress in understanding gene control to select and validate better drug targets, and to accelerate many key aspects of developing new medicines. [GlaxoSmithKline plc.] Press Release

From our sponsor: Want to learn more about the intestinal epithelium? Request a free wallchart from Cell.

Senate Panel Approves $2 Billion Raise for NIH in 2016
A Senate panel approved a bill that would bestow a generous $2 billion increase on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2016, or what appears to be a 6% raise, to $32 billion. Although a House of Representatives panel last week approved a lower figure, it seems the agency may be on track to its first significant increase in more than a decade. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

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

NEW Advanced Research Assistant – Mouse Genetics Project (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute)

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

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

Stem Cell Scientist (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency)

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

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

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.