ESC & iPSC News Volume 10.29 | Aug 5 2015

Deterministic Restriction on Pluripotent State Dissolution by Cell-Cycle Pathways
In a high-throughput RNAi screen using an inclusive set of differentiation conditions, scientists identified centrally important and context-dependent processes regulating pluripotent state dissolution in human embryonic stem cells, including histone acetylation, chromatin remodeling, RNA splicing, and signaling pathways. [Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

Automated, High-Throughput Derivation, Characterization and Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
The authors describe a modular, robotic platform for induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) reprogramming enabling automated, high-throughput conversion of skin biopsies into iPSCs and differentiated cells with minimal manual intervention. They demonstrated that automated reprogramming and pooled selection of polyclonal pluripotent cells resulted in high-quality, stable iPSCs. [Nat Methods] Abstract | Press Release

Ground State Conditions Induce Rapid Reorganization of Core Pluripotency Factor Binding before Global Epigenetic Reprogramming
Investigators showed that 2i conditions rapidly alter the global binding landscape of OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG. The dynamic binding influenced enhancer activity and showed enrichment for regulators linked to Wnt and Erk signaling. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

α-5 Laminin Synthesized by Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Promotes Self-Renewal
The authors identified α-5 laminin as a signature extracellular matrix component endogenously synthesized by undifferentiated human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) cultured on defined substrates. Inducible shRNA knockdown and Cas9-mediated disruption of the LAMA5 gene dramatically reduced hPSC self-renewal and increased apoptosis without affecting the expression of pluripotency markers. [Stem Cell Rep]
Abstract | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

ETS-Related Transcription Factors ETV4 and ETV5 Are Involved in Proliferation and Induction of Differentiation-Associated Genes in ES Cells
The authors showed that the ETS-related transcription factors ETV4 and ETV5 (ETV4/5) are specifically expressed in undifferentiated embryonic stem (ES) cells, and suppression of Oct3/4 results in down-regulation of ETV4/5. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

P53 Regulates Rapid Apoptosis in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Investigators explored the underlying mechanism(s) for the increased apoptotic sensitivity of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) that helps to determine pluripotent stem cell fate. They showed that hPSCs are more sensitive to all three types of apoptosis induction than are lineage non-specific, retinoic acid differentiated hPSCs. [J Mol Biol] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Generation of Functional Cardiomyocytes from Efficiently Generated Human iPSCs and a Novel Method of Measuring Contractility
The authors report a highly efficient combination of DNA and mRNA to generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and functional induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes from adult human cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

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Oncologist to Lead Stem Cell Trial for AIDS-Related Lymphoma
The state stem cell agency, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, approved funding a UC Davis Health System research team to conduct a clinical trial using bioengineered stem cells to treat HIV patients suffering from lymphoma, one of the deadly conditions associated with the disease. [UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center] Press Release

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Senate Panel Approves Public Access Bill
Open-access advocates are heralding a Senate panel’s approval today of a bill that would require U.S. science agencies to make the peer-reviewed research papers they fund freely available to the public. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

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

Head of Research – Cellular Operations (Welcome Trust Sanger Institute)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Epigenetics (Institute of Molecular Biology Mainz)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Biophysics (University Paris Diderot)

Research Fellow – Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (National Cancer Center Singapore)

Postdoctoral Positions – Human ES & iPS Cells and Heart Regenerative Medicine (University of Pittsburgh)

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)

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