ESC & iPSC News Volume 13.16 | Apr 25 2018

TOP STORY

LUBAC Is Essential for Embryogenesis by Preventing Cell Death and Enabling Hematopoiesis

Researchers showed, by creating HOIL-1-deficient mice, that HOIL-1 is as essential for linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC) function as HOIP, albeit for different reasons: whereas HOIP is the catalytically active component of LUBAC, HOIL-1 is required for LUBAC assembly, stability and optimal retention in the TNFR1 signaling complex, thereby preventing aberrant cell death. [Nature] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Super-Obese Patient-Derived iPSC Hypothalamic Neurons Exhibit Obesogenic Signatures and Hormone Responses

Scientists generated human iPSCs (hiPSCs) from multiple normal body mass index subjects and super-obese donors with polygenic coding variants in obesity-associated genes. They developed a method to reliably differentiate hiPSCs into hypothalamic-like neurons capable of secreting orexigenic and anorexigenic neuropeptides. [Cell Stem Cell] Full Article | Press Release | Editorial | Graphical Abstract

TFAP2C Regulates Transcription in Human Naive Pluripotency by Opening Enhancers

To identify new transcription factors that differentially regulate the unique pluripotent stages, investigators mapped open chromatin using ATAC-seq and found enrichment of the activator protein-2 transcription factor binding motif at naive-specific open chromatin. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract

Reprogramming of H3K9me3-Dependent Heterochromatin during Mammalian Embryo Development

The authors mapped the genome-wide distribution of H3K9me3 modifications in mouse early embryos. They found that H3K9me3 exhibits distinct dynamic features in promoters and long terminal repeats. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract

Bacterial Cellulose Promotes Long-Term Stemness of mESC

Researchers demonstrated that the nanofibrous bacterial cellulose membrane derived from Komagataeibacter Xylinus can inhibit the differentiation of mouse ESCs (mESCs) under long-term conditions, improving their MEF-free cultivation in comparison to the MEF-supported conventional culture. [ACS Appl Mater Interfaces] Abstract

X Chromosome Dosage Influences DNA Methylation Dynamics during Reprogramming to Mouse iPSCs

The authors analyzed DNA methylation changes during reprogramming of male and female somatic cells and in resulting iPSCs. Genome-wide hypomethylation in female cells affected many genomic landmarks, including enhancers and imprint control regions, and accompanied the reactivation of the inactive X chromosome. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Dissecting the Contributions of Cooperating Gene Mutations to Cancer Phenotypes and Drug Responses with Patient-Derived iPSCs

Researchers used patient-derived iPSCs and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to dissect the individual contributions of two recurrent genetic lesions, the splicing factor SRSF2 P95L mutation and the chromosome 7q deletion, to the development of myeloid malignancy. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Accurate Estimation of 5-Methylcytosine in Mammalian Mitochondrial DNA

Investigators exhaustively analyzed mouse mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) using three methods that are based upon different principles for detecting 5-methylcytosine. Next-generation bisulfite sequencing did not give any significant signatures of methylation in mtDNAs of liver, brain and embryonic stem cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Analysis of Human ES Cell Differentiation Establishes that the Dominant Isoforms of the lncRNAs RMST and FIRRE Are Circular

Changes in circular RNA levels have been identified during human development, which may be functionally important, but lineage-specific analyses are currently lacking. To address this, scientists performed RNAseq analysis of human ES cells differentiated for 90 days towards 3D laminated retina. [BMC Genomics] Full Article

Organoids in Cancer Research

The authors evaluate tumor organoid protocols and how they can be utilized as an alternative model for cancer research. [Nat Rev Cancer] Abstract

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

STEMCELL Technologies Announces $45 Million Government Funding for Advanced Manufacturing Facility

STEMCELL Technologies announced a $45 million joint funding agreement between the Governments of Canada and British Columbia to help the company build a state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing facility. [STEMCELL Technologies Inc.] Press Release

$10m in Funding Awarded to 11 Projects to Boost Health Innovation

MTPConnect – the Australian Government’s Medical Technology, Biotechnology, and Pharmaceutical Industry Growth Centre – and the Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, announced the first 11 recipients of $10 million investment from the Australian Government’s $35 million BioMedTech Horizons program. [MTPConnect] Press Release

U.K. Commits to EU Trial Rules Post-Brexit as CRUK Hails ‘Fantastic News’

The U.K. government said it will endeavor to keep pace with the European Union’s impending changes in clinical trial procedures, bringing some solace to those wondering how the two will stay aligned after Brexit starts in earnest next March. [Questex LLC.] Editorial

Rent Increase Hits Europe’s Drug Regulator before Brexit Move

With less than a year to go before the European Medicines Agency must leave its London headquarters because of Brexit, the agency is facing an unexpected rent increase that could cut into its budget for approving new medicines and overseeing clinical trials. [Nature News] Editorial

Columbia University Graduate Students Go on Strike

Administration officials contend that research and teaching assistants are students, not workers, and want to take the matter to federal court. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW 11^th Annual Business of Regenerative Medicine: Innovation, Clinical Translation, and Entrepreneurship Symposium
July 17-18, 2018
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

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

NEW Scientist/Senior Scientist – Bioprocess Engineering (Bluerock Therapeutics, LLC.)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow Positions – Cardiovascular Stem Cell/iPSC Biology (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Research Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Positions – Organoids and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (Max Planck for Molecular Biomedicine)

Research Associate – Regulatory Dynamics and Cell Identity (Imperial College London)

Postdoctoral Positions – Translational iPS Cell Research, Division of Pre-Clinical Innovation (National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer, Immunotherapy, and Fibrosis (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cells, Development and Cancer (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology and iPSCs (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Associate – hiPSC-Based Brain Organoids (Rutgers University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology (City of Hope)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

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