ESC & iPSC News Volume 11.02 | Jan 20 2016

Functional Anterior Pituitary Generated in Self-Organizing Culture of Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Generating human anterior pituitary tissue that retains regulatory hormonal control in vitro is an important step for the development of cell transplantation therapy for pituitary diseases. The authors achieved this by recapitulating mouse pituitary development using human embryonic stem cells. [Nat Commun] Full Article

H3K4 Methyltransferase Set1a Is a Key Oct4 Coactivactor Essential for Generation of Oct4 Positive Inner Cell Mass
Set1a was recruited to and required for H3K4 methylation at the Oct4 target gene promoters and transcriptional activation of Oct4 target genes in embryonic stem cells (ESCs), and consistently Set1a is required for ESC maintenance and induced pluripotent stem cell generation. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Conversion of Embryonic Stem Cells into Extraembryonic Lineages by CRISPR-Mediated Activators
Researchers enhanced the expression of endogenous Cdx2 and Gata6 genes by CRISPR-mediated activators, thus mouse embryonic stem cells were directly converted into two extraembryonic lineages. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Enhanced OCT4 Transcriptional Activity Substitutes for Exogenous SOX2 in Cellular Reprogramming
Scientists showed that adenoviral early region 1A can generate induced pluripotent stem cells in combination with OCT4 and KLF4, thus replacing exogenous SOX2. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Non-Invasive Chamber-Specific Identification of Cardiomyocytes in Differentiating Pluripotent Stem Cells
Researchers demonstrated that Raman microspectroscopy can non-invasively identify embryonic stem cell-derived chamber-specific cardiomyocytes and monitor cell maturation. [Stem Cell Reports]
Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Genetic Variability Overrides the Impact of Parental Cell Type and Determines iPSC Differentiation Potential
Investigators showed that induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) lines derived from the same donor are highly similar to each other. However, genetic variation imparts a donor-specific expression and methylation profile in reprogrammed cells that leads to variable functional capacities of iPSC lines. [Stem Cell Reports]
Full Article | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF) Withdrawal Activates mTOR Signaling Pathway in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells through the MEK/ERK/TSC2 Pathway
Investigators showed that the LIF/STAT3-regulated signaling pathway contributes to the maintenance of self-renewal and pluripotency of mouse embryonic stem cells by suppressing mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), which is necessary for early differentiation. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

High-Efficient Transfection of Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Single Cell-Plating and Starvation
Scientists tried to modify the traditional transfection protocol by introducing two crucial processes, single cell-plating and starvation, to increase the transfection efficiency in human embryonic stem cells. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Mitochondrial Resetting and Metabolic Reprogramming in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Mitochondrial Disease Modeling
The authors review recent advances in the study of the molecular basis for mitochondrial resetting and metabolic reprogramming in the regulation of the formation of induced pluripotent stem cells. [Biochim Biophys Acta] Abstract

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

Regen BioPharma, Inc. and the National Institutes of Health to Collaborate
Regen BioPharma, Inc. announced that the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health, and Regen have entered into a formal research collaboration agreement to jointly explore the biology of the NR2F6 protein. [Regen BioPharma, Inc. (PR Newswire LLC.)] Press Release

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Turkish Scientists Rocked by Accusations of Supporting Terrorism
Hundreds of Turkish academics are waiting to find out whether they will be prosecuted or sacked for spreading “terrorist propaganda”, after they signed a petition calling for violence to end in Turkey’s southeast, where government forces have been fighting Kurdish separatists. [Nature News] Editorial

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Bioinformatics and Stem Cell Biology (University of Texas)

NEW Postdoctoral Candidate – Embryonic Stem Cells and Chromatin Biology (University of Michigan)

NEW Development Engineer/Scientist – Regenerative Medicine (Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cell and Developmental Biology (The Francis Crick Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology (Krembil Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Developmental and Stem Cell Biology (University of Cambridge)

Science Content Writer (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)

Stem Cell Production Scientist (Definigen Ltd)

Scientist – Cell Biology (Semma Therapeutics)

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