ESC & iPSC News Volume 11.24 | Jun 22 2016

TOP STORY

LIN28 Regulates Stem Cell Metabolism and Conversion to Primed Pluripotency

The authors showed that, like LIN28A, LIN28B can function effectively with NANOG, OCT4, and SOX2 in reprogramming to pluripotency and that reactivation of both endogenous LIN28A and LIN28B loci are required for maximal reprogramming efficiency. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Impairment of DNA Methylation Maintenance Is the Main Cause of Global Demethylation in Naive Embryonic Stem Cells

Researchers showed that the main drivers of global demethylation are neither active mechanisms (Aicda, Tdg, and Tet1-3) nor the reduction of de novo methylation. UHRF1 protein, the essential targeting factor for DNMT1, is reduced upon transition to 2i, and so is recruitment of the maintenance methylation machinery to replication foci. [Mol Cell] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Regulation of WNT Signaling by VSX2 during Optic Vesicle Patterning in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Scientists performed Visual System Homeobox 2 (VSX2) ChIP-seq and ChIP-PCR assays on early stage optic vesicle-like structures derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells, which highlighted WNT pathway genes as direct regulatory targets of VSX2. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Functional Analysis of AEBP2, a PRC2 Polycomb Protein, Reveals a Trithorax Phenotype in Embryonic Development and in ES Cells

The authors characterized AEBP2, a known PRC2 cofactor which, in vitro, has been shown to stimulate PRC2 activity. They showed that AEBP2 localizes specifically to PRC2 target loci, including the inactive X chromosome. [Development] Abstract

Embryonic Stem Cell Proliferation Stimulated by Altered Anabolic Metabolism From Glucose Transporter 2-Transported Glucosamine

Investigators employed a novel murine embryonic stem cell (ESC) line that, like mouse embryos, expresses functional GLUT2 transporters. Glucosamine stimulated ESC proliferation in a GLUT2-dependent fashion but did not regulate pluripotency. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Establishment of Bovine Embryonic Stem Cells after Knockdown of CDX2

CDX2 in bovine inner cell mass was an inducer of trophoblast lineage with a negative effect on maintenance of pluripotency of bovine embryonic stem cells. [Sci Rep] Abstract

Large-Scale Production of Mature Neurons from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells in a Three-Dimensional Suspension Culture System

The authors present differentiation protocols for the generation of distinct subtypes of neurons in a highly reproducible manner, with minimal experiment-to-experiment variation. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Combining Single-Strand Oligodeoxynucleotides and CRISPR/Cas9 to Correct Gene Mutations in Beta-Thalassemia-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

The authors designed a CRISPR/Cas9 to specifically target the HBB gene CD41/42 (-CTTT) mutation. They demonstrated that the combination of single-strand oligodeoxynucleotides with CRISPR/Cas9 was capable of correcting the HBB gene CD41/42 mutation in beta-thalassemia induced pluripotent stem cells. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells to Lentoid Bodies Expressing a Lens Cell-Specific Fluorescent Reporter

Scientists present a new approach for in vitro growth of lentoid bodies from induced pluripotent stem cells as a tool for ophthalmological research. [PLoS One] Full Article

Full Biological Characterization of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Will Open the Door to Translational Research

The authors summarize current knowledge concerning pluripotency, self-renewal, apoptosis, motility, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. [Arch Toxicol] Abstract

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Emmaus Medical Signs Licensing Agreement with Tokyo-Based Regenerative Medicine Company, CellSeed

Emmaus Medical announced it has signed a licensing agreement with Tokyo-based regenerative medicine company, CellSeed, to commercialize Epithelial Cell Sheet Corneal Regeneration technology for Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency in the United States. [Emmaus Medical] Press Release

Sangamo BioSciences Announces FDA Clearance of Investigational New Drug Application for ZFN-Mediated Genome Editing Treatment of MPS II

Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the Company’s Investigational New Drug application for SB-913, a zinc finger nuclease (ZFN)-mediated approach designed as a single treatment with the potential to provide a long-lasting therapy for Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II (MPS II). [Sangamo BioSciences] Press Release

Yumanity Therapeutics and the New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute Announce Discovery Collaboration

Yumanity Therapeutics announced a discovery collaboration with the New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating cures for major diseases through stem cell research. [Yumanity Therapeutics (Business Wire)] Press Release

First Proposed Human Test of CRISPR Passes Initial Safety Review

A cancer study that would represent the first use of the red-hot gene-editing tool CRISPR in people passed a key safety review. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

House Panel, Agencies Oppose Boost in Basic Research Tax

The Obama administration and a key congressional committee weighed in against legislation moving through Congress that would increase the share of federal research dollars going to small businesses. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW International Conference on Stem Cell Engineering 2016
October 23-26, 2016
Toronto, Canada

NEW Cell & Gene Therapy Europe
September 21, 2016
Berlin, Germany

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Biology and Stem Cell Biology Research (City of Hope)

Technical Sales Representative (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Myogenic and Progenitor Cell (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Epigenetics (Institut of Molecular Biology)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Bioscience Research (The University of Tennessee Health Science Center)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Bioinformatics Exploring Early Human Development and Stem Cell Biology (Karolinska Institutet)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell/Genome Editing/Neuroscience (University of California, Davis)

Postdoctoral Fellow (Joslin Diabetes Center)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Differentiation (Washington University School of Medicine)

Scientist – Target Validation (Innate Pharma)

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