ESC & iPSC News Volume 10.33 | Sep 2 2015

Rho-Signaling-Directed YAP/TAZ Activity Underlies the Long-Term Survival and Expansion of Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Scientists found that the survival of human embryonic stem cells depends on the small GTPase Rho and its activator AKAP-Lbc. They showed that AKAP-Lbc/Rho signaling sustains the nuclear function of the transcriptional cofactors YAP and TAZ by modulating actin microfilament organization. [Cell Stem Cell]
Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Histone Variant H3.3 Provides the Heterochromatic H3 Lysine 9 Tri-Methylation Mark at Telomeres
Scientists showed that H3.3 is targeted for K9 trimethylation to establish a heterochromatic state enriched in trimethylated H3.3K9 at telomeres. In H3f3a^-/- and H3f3b^-/- mouse embryonic stem cells, H3.3 deficiency resulted in reduced levels of H3K9me3, H4K20me3 and ATRX at telomeres. [Nucleic Acids Res]
Abstract | Full Article

Modeling Human Severe Combined Immunodeficiency and Correction by CRISPR/Cas9-Enhanced Gene Targeting
Using severe combined immunodeficiency patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells and a T cell in vitro differentiation system, researchers demonstrated a complete block in early T cell development of JAK3-deficient cells. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Generation of GFAP::GFP Astrocyte Reporter Lines from Human Adult Fibroblast-Derived iPS Cells Using Zinc-Finger Nuclease Technology
To overcome the difficulties of cell type heterogeneity during the differentiation process from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to astroglial cells (iPS astrocytes), investigators generated homogenous populations of iPS astrocytes using zinc-finger nuclease technology. [Glia] Abstract

Tet-Mediated Imprinting Erasure in H19 Locus following Reprogramming of Spermatogonial Stem Cells to Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Spermatogonial stem cells (SSC) that harbor paternalized imprinting marks, and fibroblasts were reprogrammed to iPSC (SSCiPSC and fiPSC). The SSCiPSC were able to form teratomas and generated chimeras with a higher skin chimerism than those derived from fiPSC. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Dissecting the Role of Distinct OCT4-SOX2 Heterodimer Configurations in Pluripotency
Researchers generated SOX2 mutants that interfere with specific OCT4-SOX2 heterodimer configurations and assessed their ability to generate induced pluripotent stem cells and to rescue embryonic stem cell self-renewal. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Klf2 and Tfcp2l1, Two Wnt/β-Catenin Targets, Act Synergistically to Induce and Maintain Naive Pluripotency
The authors showed that the self-renewal-promoting effect of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is mainly mediated by two of its downstream targets, Klf2 and Tfcp2l1. [Stem Cell Reports] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Design of a Vitronectin-Based Recombinant Protein as a Defined Substrate for Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Hepatocyte-Like Cells
Investigators designed novel substrates consisting of vitronectin fragments fused to the IgG Fc domain. Human pluripotent stem cells adhered to these substrates via interactions between integrins and the RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) motif, and the cells maintained their undifferentiated phenotypes. [PLoS One] Full Article

Transcription Factor Competition Allows Embryonic Stem Cells to Distinguish Authentic Signals from Noise
Researchers engineered mouse embryonic stem cells to allow quantitative control over the endogenous mechanism of neural differentiation through a light-inducible Brn2 transgene and monitored differentiation status through a genome-integrated Nanog-GFP reporter. [Cell Syst] Full Article | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

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

Ocata Therapeutics Receives SBIR Grant from the NIH’s National Eye Institute to Develop Proprietary Photoreceptor Progenitor Cell Therapy for Retinitis Pigmentosa
Ocata Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to fund investigational new drug-enabling preclinical development of Ocata’s proprietary photoreceptor progenitor product for the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa and photoreceptor dystrophies. [Ocata Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

From our sponsor:
Discover how to reduce variability in primary neuron cultures with NeuroCult™ SM. Watch the webinar.

In Brief, Papers with Shorter Titles Get More Citations, Study Suggests
They say never judge a book by its cover, but a new study suggests that you may be able to predict the popularity of a scientific paper from the length of its title. [ScienceInsider] Editorial | Report

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

NEW Laboratory Head – Stem Cell Biology (RIKEN)

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

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Development and Pathogenesis of Pancreatic Cancer (University College London)

Postdoctoral Fellow – (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

Senior Research Technician – Cancer and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Qu Biologics)

Advanced Research Assistant – Gene Targeting (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute)

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

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Biophysics (University Paris Diderot)

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.