ESC & iPSC News Volume 11.33 | Aug 24 2016

TOP STORY

Single-Cell RNA-seq Reveals Novel Regulators of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation to Definitive Endoderm

Researchers analyzed the transcriptomes of human embryonic stem cell-derived lineage-specific progenitors by single-cell RNA-sequencing. [Genome Biol] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Chromosomal Instability and Molecular Defects in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome Patients

The authors showed successful reprogramming of Nijmegen breakage syndrome fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells. Their data suggest a strong selection for karyotypically normal fibroblasts to go through the reprogramming process. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Extensive Supporting Cell Proliferation and Mitotic Hair Cell Generation by In Vivo Genetic Reprogramming in the Neonatal Mouse Cochlea

Scientists showed that extensive proliferation of supporting cells (SCs) followed by mitotic hair cell generation is achieved through a genetic reprogramming process involving the activation of β-catenin to upregulate Wnt signaling, the deletion of Notch1 to downregulate Notch signaling, and the overexpression of Atoh1 in Sox2⁺ SCs in neonatal mouse cochleae. [J Neurosci] Abstract

Inhibition of MicroRNA-495 Enhances Therapeutic Angiogenesis of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Researchers developed an endothelial cell generation approach by inhibiting microRNA-495 in human induced pluripotent stem cells and assessed the angiogenic potential for myocardial infarction treatment. [Stem Cells] Abstract

CRISPR/Cas9 Mediated Genome Editing in ES Cells and Its Application for Chimeric Analysis in Mice

Investigators showed that large deletions with two single guide RNAs as well as dsDNA-mediated point mutations are efficient in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Erasure and Reestablishment of Random Allelic Expression Imbalance after Epigenetic Reprogramming

Scientists examined allelic expression patterns in human neural progenitor cells before and after epigenetic reprogramming to induced pluripotency, observing that loci previously characterized by random allelic expression imbalance are generally reset to a biallelic state in induced pluripotent stem cells. [RNA] Abstract | Full Article

AK048794 Maintain the Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency by Functioning as miRNA Sponges for miR-592

In order to investigate the role of miR-592 in neurogenesis, scientists describe the expression profile of long non-coding RNAs in miR-592 knock-out mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and the corresponding normal mESCs by microarray. [Biochem J] Abstract

A High Proliferation Rate Is Critical for Reproducible and Standardized Embryoid Body Formation from Laminin-521-Based Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Cultures

Researchers developed an efficient and standardized embryoid body formation protocol for human pluripotent stem cells cultured in a laminin-521-based xeno-free system. [Stem Cell Rev] Abstract

Sevoflurane Represses the Self-Renewal Ability by Regulating miR-7a,7b/Klf4 Signaling Pathway in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Investigators found that sevoflurane significantly influenced self-renewal ability of mouse embryonic stem cells on stemness maintenance and cell proliferation. [Cell Prolif] Abstract

Modulation of Human Mesenchymal and Pluripotent Stem Cell Behavior Using Biophysical and Biochemical Cues

The authors summarize the most important biophysical cues and methods for the culture of human stem cells, including mesenchymal and pluripotent stem cells, to facilitate their adoption in stem cell biology. [Biotechnol Bioeng] Abstract

Unique Regulatory Mechanisms for the Human Embryonic Stem Cell Cycle

The abbreviated G1 period with retention of uncompromised fidelity for genetic and epigenetic mechanisms operative in control of proliferation support competency for expansion of the pluripotent cell population that is fundamental for initial stages of development. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

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Takara Bio Announces the Launch of Human iPSC-Derived Beta Cells for Drug Screening and Diabetes Research

Takara Bio USA, Inc., which specializes in human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cells and medias for scale-up and differentiation, has expanded its offering of tools for drug discovery and disease modeling. [Takara Bio USA, Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC)] Press Release

Health Science Center, UTSA Gain $4.6 Million for Cancer Research

The Center for Innovative Drug Discovery (CIDD), a joint program of the UT Health Science Center San Antonio and The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), is receiving a $4,598,728 grant from the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas. The grant, announced Aug. 17, will support CIDD research to design more-effective cancer drugs through small-molecule drug discovery. [UT Health Science Center] Press Release

Putin Appoints Church Historian as Science Minister

Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed a church historian as the country’s new science and education minister. The president announced that Olga Vasilyeva would succeed the current science minister, Dmitry Livanov, who will become presidential envoy on trade and economic relations with Ukraine, according to the Russian news agency Interfax. [Nature News] Editorial

Obama’s Science Legacy: Betting Big on Biomedical Science

Ambitious bids to map the brain and cure cancer have not boosted overall research funding. [Nature News] Editorial

US Personalized-Medicine Industry Takes Hit from Supreme Court

Rejections for US patents related to personalized medicine have spiked after recent Supreme Court decisions tightened the rules for such claims, an analysis of more than 39,000 patent applications reveals. [Nature News] Editorial

Chemistry Group Throws out Election Results after Fears of Vote Rigging

Members of the Society of Biological Inorganic Chemistry are reacting with puzzlement and shock after learning that the results of a recent online leadership election have been thrown out because of voting irregularities—raising concerns over possible manipulation. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Updated: Companies Settle Gene Technology Patent Fight that Was Shrouded in Mystery

Illumina Inc. and Oxford Nanopore Technologies have reached a settlement in this legal battle, according to a U.S. International Trade Commission document released last week. Oxford has agreed not to import or sell any product containing a pore with an amino acid sequence at least 68% similar to Mycobacterium smegmatis porin — the protein at the heart of Illumina’s infringement claim — and to destroy any inventory of such products. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Obama’s Science Legacy: Uneven Progress on Scientific Integrity

Many researchers who watched Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009 were thrilled by his pledge to “restore science to its rightful place”. But scientists and legal scholars say that, in many ways, Obama has failed to live up to that lofty promise. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW The 2^nd International Conference on Aging and Disease (ICAD 2016)
September 30-October 2, 2017
Stanford, United States

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NEW Postdoctoral Position – Metabolic Regulation of Embryonic and Stem Cell Biology (Joslin Diabetes Center)

Technical Sales Representative (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

PhD Studentship – Fibrosis (National University of Ireland, Galway)

Assistant Professor – Developmental Biology (Washington University School of Medicine)

Core Staff Scientist (Moffitt Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Regenerative Medicine (University of California, San Francisco)

Postdoctoral Position – Biomedical Engineering (University of South Dakota)

Postdoctoral Position – Cardiovascular Stem Cell Biology (Yale University)

Industrial Research Manager – Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering (KU Leuven)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Pluripotent Stem Cell Technology (University of California, Davis)

Postdoctoral Position – Bone and Stem Cell Research (University of Connecticut Health)

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