ESC & iPSC News Volume 12.48 | Dec 6 2017

TOP STORY

Pluripotent State Transitions Coordinate Morphogenesis in Mouse and Human Embryos

Researchers showed that exit from an unrestricted naive pluripotent state is required for epiblast epithelialization and generation of the pro-amniotic cavity in mouse embryos. [Nature] Full Article | Editorial

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

TET Proteins Safeguard Bivalent Promoters from De Novo Methylation in Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Investigators showed that TET1, TET2 and TET3 triple-knockout human embryonic stem cells exhibit prominent bivalent promoter hypermethylation without an overall corresponding decrease in gene expression in the undifferentiated state. [Nat Genet] Abstract

Molecular and Functional Resemblance of Differentiated Cells Derived from Isogenic Human iPSCs and SCNT-Derived ESCs

Scientists investigated the molecular and functional features, and drug response of cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells derived from genetically relevant sets of human iPSCs, somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)-derived embryonic stem cells, as well as in vitro fertilization embryo-derived ESCs. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

A Chemical-Genetic Approach Reveals the Distinct Roles of GSK3α and GSK3β in Regulating Embryonic Stem Cell Fate

Selective inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3β) was sufficient to maintain mouse ESC self-renewal, whereas GSK3α inhibition promoted mouse ESC differentiation toward neural lineages. Genome-wide transcriptional analysis revealed that GSK3α and GSK3β have distinct sets of downstream targets. [Dev Cell] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Generation of Induced Progenitor-Like Cells from Mature Epithelial Cells Using Interrupted Reprogramming

The authors present an “interrupted reprogramming” strategy to generate “induced progenitor-like cells” using carefully timed expression of induced pluripotent stem cell reprogramming factors from non-proliferative Club cells. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Press Release

TRIM28 and Interacting KRAB-ZNFs Control Self-Renewal of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells through Epigenetic Repression of Pro-Differentiation Genes

Researchers showed that tripartite motif protein 28 (TRIM28)/Krüppel-associated box domain zinc fingers (KRAB-ZNFs) alter DNA methylation patterns in addition to H3K9me3 to cause stable gene repression during reprogramming. Using several expression datasets, they identified KRAB-ZNFs (ZNF114, ZNF483, ZNF589) in the human genome that maintain pluripotency. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Low Osteogenic Yield in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Associates with Differential Neural Crest Promoter Methylation

Scientists compared the osteogenic potential of two human induced pluripotent stem cell lines (RIV9 and RIV4) to human H9 embryonic stem cells. Generally capable of osteogenic differentiation, the overall osteogenic yield was lower in the RIV9 and RIV4 lines and correlated with differential expression of osteocalcin in mature cultures and PAX7 and TWIST1 during early differentiation. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Microprinted Stem Cell Niches Reveal Compounding Effect of Colony Size on Stromal Cells-Mediated Neural Differentiation

Using a robotic cell microprinting technology, defined densities of ESCs were confined within aqueous nanodrops over a layer of supporting stromal cells immersed in a second, immiscible aqueous phase to generate ESC colonies of defined sizes. [Adv Healthc Mater] Abstract

OCT4 Supports Extended LIF-Independent Self-Renewal and Maintenance of Transcriptional and Epigenetic Networks in Embryonic Stem Cells

Investigators showed that inducible expression of OCT4 (iOCT4) supports long-term leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)-independent self-renewal of ES cells cultured in media containing fetal bovine serum and a glycogen synthase kinase-3 inhibitor, and in serum-free media. LIF-independent iOCT4 ES cells retained the capacity to differentiate in vitro and in vivo upon downregulation of OCT4 expression. [Sci Rep] Full Article

CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Genome Editing in Naïve Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Scientists optimized a genome-editing workflow in naïve human ESCs that can be used to study candidate genes involved in neural differentiation and/or functioning. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Transient Transcriptional Silencing Alters the Cell Cycle to Promote Germline Stem Cell Differentiation in Drosophila

Pgc was expressed transiently in the immediate GSC daughter (pre-cystoblast), where it mediated a pulse of transcriptional silencing. This transcriptional silencing mediated by pgc indirectly promoted the accumulation of Cyclin B and cell cycle progression into late-G2 phase, when the differentiation factor bag of marbles was expressed. [Dev Biol] Full Article

Self-Organized Cerebellar Tissue from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells and Disease Modeling with Patient-Derived iPSCs

The authors discuss applications of patient-specific iPSCs to intractable cerebellar disease. [Cerebellum] Abstract

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

Ncardia and Evotec Entered a Licencing Agreement for Disease Modeling Using iPS Cells

Ncardia announced that they entered into a global non-exclusive IP licensing agreement with Evotec. Under the terms of the agreement, Evotec has broad access to Ncardia’s stem cell derived cellular disease modeling IP. The patent family encompasses the use of in vitro derived cells for testing drug efficacy, safety and target discovery. [Ncardia (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

California Stem Cell Agency Invests $16.4 Million to Test Great New Ideas Targeting Cancer, Vision Loss and Parkinson’s Disease

The governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine invested more than $16.4 million to help researchers find answers to questions that could one day lead to new therapies for leukemia, respiratory problems, and a devastating skin disease that affects children. [California Institute for Regenerative Medicine] Press Release

Hundreds of German Universities Set to Lose Access to Elsevier Journals

Around 200 German universities will lose their subscriptions to Elsevier journals within weeks, because negotiations have failed to end a long-term contract dispute. [Nature News] Editorial

Trump Science Job Nominees Missing Advanced Science Degrees

When it comes to filling jobs dealing with complex science, environment, and health issues, the Trump administration is nominating people with fewer science academic credentials than their Obama predecessors. And it’s moving slower as well. [STAT News] Editorial

Biohackers Disregard FDA Warning on DIY Gene Therapy

Despite a warning from the federal government about do-it-yourself (DIY) gene therapy, two companies say they’ll continue offering DNA-altering materials to the public. The companies, The Odin and Ascendance Biomedical, both recently posted videos online of people self-administering DNA molecules their labs had produced. [MIT Technology Review] Editorial

Health Agency Reveals Scourge of Fake Drugs in Developing World

One in ten medicines in developing countries is fake or substandard, data from the World Health Organization suggest. Malaria drugs and antibiotics are among the most commonly reported, the agency found. But the problem extends to a variety of medications, including those for cancer, heart disease and HIV, as well as contraceptives and painkillers. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 11^th Dutch Stem Cell Meeting
May 4, 2018
Utrecht, Netherlands

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

NEW Postdoctral Fellow – Human Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (Boston University School of Medicine)

Quality Control Analyst – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Positions – Translational iPS Cell Research, Division of Pre-Clinical Innovation (NIH NCATS)

Research Assistant – Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Organoid Formation and Self-Organization (Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research)

Postdoctoral Fellow – 3D Coculture/Organoid Cultures of Brain Structures (KU Leuven)

Postdoctoral Fellow – 3D Multicellular Culture Systems (KU Leuven)

Bioengineer – Stem Cells (Scaled Biolabs Inc.)

Postdoctoral Researchers – Stem Cell Metabolism (University of Helsinki)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Positions – Cytokines in Immunity, Stem Cells and Tissue Repair (Hospital for Special Surgery and Weill Cornell Medicine)

Research Assistant – Organoid Formation and Self-Organization (Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research)

Postdoctoral Fellow – iPSC Research (Kyoto University)

Strategic Marketing Manager – Toxicology and Safety Pharmacology (Cellular Dynamics International)

Head of Facility – Gene Editing and Embryology (European Molecular Biology Laboratory)

Faculty Positions – Stem Cells or Organoid Models (Center for Stem Cell & Organoid Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Cell Therapy in Type 1 Diabetes (University of Copenhagen)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Multiple Areas (University of Oklahoma)

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