ESC & iPSC News Volume 12.15 | Apr 19 2017

TOP STORY

Assembly of Embryonic and Extraembryonic Stem Cells to Mimic Embryogenesis In Vitro

Scientists combined embryonic and extraembryonic stem cells in vitro on a three-dimensional matrix and found that these cells were capable of self-assembly into a structure whose development and architecture were similar to that of the natural embryo. [Science] Abstract

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A Tiling-Deletion-Based Genetic Screen for Cis-Regulatory Element Identification in Mammalian Cells

Investigators report a high-throughput method, cis-regulatory element scan by tiling-deletion and sequencing, for the unbiased discovery and functional assessment of cis-regulatory sequences in the genome. They used it to interrogate the 2-Mb POU5F1 locus in human embryonic stem cells, and identified 45 cis-regulatory elements. [Nat Methods] Abstract

Large, Diverse Population Cohorts of hiPSCs and Derived Hepatocyte-Like Cells Reveal Functional Genetic Variation at Blood Lipid-Associated Loci

Researchers recruited a multi-ethnic cohort of healthy volunteers and used their tissue to generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and hepatocyte-like cells for genome-wide mapping of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) and allele-specific expression. They identified many eQTL genes not observed in the comparably sized Genotype-Tissue Expression project’s human liver cohort. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

A Simplified Protocol for Differentiation of Electrophysiologically Mature Neuronal Networks from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

The authors report a simplified differentiation protocol that yields electrophysiologically mature induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical lineage neuronal networks without the need for astrocyte co-culture or specialized media. This protocol generates a consistent 60:40 ratio of neurons and astrocytes that arise from a common forebrain neural progenitor. [Mol Psychiatry] Full Article

Defective Synaptic Connectivity and Axonal Neuropathology in a Human iPSC-Based Model of Familial Parkinson’s Disease

Investigators generated de novo induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patients harboring a G209A α-synuclein (αSyn) mutation and developed a robust model that captures Parkinson’s disease pathogenic processes under basal conditions. iPSC-derived mutant neurons displayed novel disease-relevant phenotypes, including protein aggregation, compromised neuritic outgrowth, and contorted or fragmented axons with swollen varicosities containing αSyn and Tau. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

H3K4 Demethylase KDM5B Regulates Global Dynamics of Transcription Elongation and Alternative Splicing in Embryonic Stem Cells

Researchers showed that KDM5B, which demethylates trimethylated histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4), plays an integral role in regulating RNA polymerase II occupancy, transcriptional initiation and elongation, and alternative splicing events in embryonic stem cells. [Nucleic Acids Res] Full Article

Atypical PKC and Notch Inhibition Differentially Modulate Cortical Interneuron Subclass Fate from Embryonic Stem Cells

Scientists found that atypical PKC inhibition enhances intermediate neurogenesis from stem cell-derived medial ganglionic eminence progenitors, resulting in a markedly increased ratio of parvalbumin (Pv) to somatostatin (Sst)-expressing interneurons. Conversely, inhibition of Notch signaling enriches for Sst subtypes at the expense of Pv fates. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

High-Throughput and Cost-Effective Characterization of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

The authors developed a set of simple methods that reduce cost and increase throughput in the characterization of induced pluripotent stem cell lines. They outlined methods for high-throughput quantification of surface markers, gene expression analysis of in vitro differentiation potential, and evaluation of karyotype with markedly reduced cost. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Hepatic Population Derived from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Is Effectively Increased by Selective Removal of Undifferentiated Stem Cells Using YM155

Researchers removed undifferentiated stem cells from in vitro hepatic differentiation to improve the quality of the hepatic population and guarantee safety from risk of teratoma formation. As a result, expression of endodermal markers at stage II of differentiation and hepatic markers at stage III was up-regulated by YM155 treatment as well as the hepatic population, and functions were enhanced at the final stage of differentiation. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Toxicity of Nano- and Ionic Silver to Embryonic Stem Cells: A Comparative Toxicogenomic Study

The authors characterized transcriptomic changes induced by silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) during spontaneous differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells, and compared them to those induced by ionic silver (Ag⁺) under identical conditions. After 24 hours of exposure, 101 differentially expressed genes were identified in AgNP-treated cells, whereas 400 genes responded to Ag⁺. [J Nanobiotechnology] Full Article

Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Modeling Neurodevelopmental Disorders

The authors review human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) biology and possible experimental designs when using hiPSCs to model disease. They then discuss existing hiPSC models of neurodevelopmental disorders. [Nat Rev Neurol] Abstract

Transactivator Protein: An Alternative for Delivery of Recombinant Proteins for Safer Reprogramming of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell

Researchers discuss the definition and mechanism of HIV-TAT protein in delivering recombinant proteins, including the potential of protein-based delivery to induce induced pluripotent stem cells. [Virus Res] Abstract

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Cellular Dynamics International Signs Distribution Deal with STEMCELL Technologies

Cellular Dynamics International (CDI) announced it has signed a distribution agreement with STEMCELL Technologies. Under the terms of the agreement, STEMCELL Technologies will distribute CDI’s iCell^® catalog of products in North America, Europe, and Singapore, with other countries under consideration. [STEMCELL Technologies Inc.] Press Release

UK’s Innovation Agency Backs Plasticell to Produce Red Blood Cell Substitute from Pluripotent Stem Cells

Plasticell announced it has secured Biomedical Catalyst funding of over £920,000 from Innovate UK to create a safe, effective red blood cell substitute for human clinical transfusion, in collaboration with stem cell scientists at the University of Edinburgh. [Plasticell Limited] Press Release

Plasticell and Kings College London to Collaborate in Trials of Blood Platelet Substitute

Plasticell announced it has partnered with Kings College London to progress preclinical trials of its artificial blood platelet product, manufactured from pluripotent stem cells. [Plasticell Limited] Press Release

What a Surprise General Election Could Mean for HE

Theresa May’s plan to hold a general election on the 8^th of June raises implications for universities in terms of whether the Higher Education and Research Bill can continue, the vote’s status as the “Brexit election”, and the expected emergence of Labor’s plan to scrap tuition fees. [Times Higher Education] Editorial

French-Election Fears Unite Scientists in Defense of Liberal Democracy

For scientists in France, the presidential contest is often a chance to debate research and science-related issues. When Nicolas Sarkozy was elected a decade ago, for example, university reforms and environmental policy featured prominently in the campaigns. But this time, science has barely been mentioned — elbowed out by political scandals and the rise of Marine Le Pen’s far-right Front National party. [Nature News] Editorial

Republican Scientists Negotiate the Trump Era

Conservative academics face a growing tension between their politics and the liberal atmosphere on many US campuses. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW AACR-NCI-EORTC Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics
October 26-30, 2017
Philadelphia, United States

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

NEW Research Scientist – Stem Cell Biology (National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health)

NEW Postdoctoral Research Associate – Stem Cell Technology (Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California)

Research Associate – Research and Development (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Epigenetics of Pluripotent Stem Cells (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

Research Scientist – Stem Cell Biology (ArunA Biomedical, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Epigenetic Mechanisms (European Molecular Biology Laboratory)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cells and Epigenetics (University of Michigan)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Transcriptional Networks (Radboud University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Somatic Variation (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute)

Independent Group Leaders – Regenerative Medicine (Center for Regenerative Medicine)

Group Leader – Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Brain Malignancies (German Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Developmental Neuroscience (University of Nebraska Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Bone Regeneration and Stem Cell Biology (New York University Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Research (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Multiple Areas (University of Oklahoma)

Assistant or Associate Member – Stem CellGene Therapy (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

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

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