ESC & iPSC News Volume 10.39 | Oct 14 2015

Role of the Small Subunit Processome in the Maintenance of Pluripotent Stem Cells
Investigators applied an RNAi screen for RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in mouse embryonic stem cells and identified 16 RBPs involved in pluripotency maintenance. Interestingly, six identified RBPs, including Krr1 and Ddx47, are part of a complex called small subunit processome that mediates 18S rRNA biogenesis. [Genes Dev] Full Article | Press Release

Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells into Cone Photoreceptors through Simultaneous Inhibition of BMP, TGFβ and Wnt Signaling
Upon exposure to recombinant COCO, human embryonic stem cells differentiated into S-cone photoreceptors developed an inner segment-like protrusion, and could degrade cGMP when exposed to light. [Development] Abstract | Press Release

Directed Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells into Cardiomyocytes by Bacterial Injection of Defined Transcription Factors
Scientists developed a bacterial type III secretion system-based protein delivery tool and showed its application in directing pluripotent stem cell differentiation by a controlled delivery of transcription factors relevant to early heart development. [Sci Rep] Full Article

MFG-E8 Is Critical for Embryonic Stem Cell-Mediated T Cell Immunomodulation
Investigators provided evidence that milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8) is a vital mediator in this phenomenon and directly suppresses T cell immune responses. MFG-E8 is enriched in undifferentiated embryonic stem cells (ESCs) but diminished in differentiated ESCs. [Stem Cell Reports]
Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Calcineurin-NFAT Signaling Controls Somatic Cell Reprogramming in a Stage-Dependent Manner
Researchers report that calcineurin-NFAT signaling has a dynamic activity and plays diverse roles at different stages of reprogramming. At the early stage, calcineurin-NFAT signaling is transiently activated and its activation is required for successful reprogramming. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Phosphatidic Acid Improves Reprogramming to Pluripotency by Reducing Apoptosis
By using lentiviral expression of the Yamanaka factors in mouse embryonic fibroblasts for reprogramming, investigators identified that phosphatidic acid is beneficial for the generation of induced pluripotent stem colonies. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Efficient Gene-Targeting in Rat Embryonic Stem Cells by CRISPR/Cas and Generation of Human Kynurenine Aminotransferase II (KAT II) Knock-in Rat
Researchers developed a method to improve the efficiency of homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells by the combination with the CRISPR/Cas system. [Transgenic Res] Abstract

Generation and Periodontal Differentiation of Human Gingival Fibroblasts-Derived Integration-Free Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Scientists successfully generated induced pluripotent stem cells from readily accessible human gingival fibroblasts through an integration-free and feeder-free approach via delivery of reprogramming factors of Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, L-myc, Lin28 and TP53 shRNA with episomal plasmid vectors. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

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Human Longevity, Inc. Launches the Health Nucleus, a Comprehensive and Personalized Health Platform for Individuals
Human Longevity, Inc. announced the launch of the company’s first Health Nucleus™, a genomic powered clinical research project that has the potential to transform healthcare. [Human Longevity, Inc.] Press Release

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Most Animal Research Studies May Not Avoid Key Biases
Researchers who conduct animal studies often don’t use simple safeguards against biases that have become standard in human clinical trials—or at least they don’t report doing so in their scientific papers, making it impossible for readers to ascertain the quality of the work, an analysis of more than 2500 journal articles shows. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Cancer Research UK Announces Grand Challenges Competition
A £20 million grant awaits a team of researchers who submit the best proposal for tackling one of seven grand challenges in cancer. The new competition, announced by Cancer Research UK, the giant U.K. research charity, is meant to spur collaborations aimed at exploring untested but promising ideas. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

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NEW Postdoctoral Position – Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (Northwestern University)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – iPSC Research (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Postdoctoral Position – Biomaterials for Cell Reprogramming (Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cells, Development, and Cancer Biology (University of California, Santa Cruz)

Assistant/Associate/Full Professor – Biomedical Engineering (Worcester Polytechnic Institute)

Assistant Professor – Stem Cell Biology (University of South Carolina)

Postdoctoral Position – Spinal Cord Injury Research (Indiana University-Purdue University)

Laboratory Head – Stem Cell Biology (RIKEN)

Postdoctoral Fellow – HMGA Chromatin Remodeling Proteins in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

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