ESC & iPSC News 13.40 October 10, 2018 | |
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TOP STORYOTX2 Restricts Entry to the Mouse Germline Deletion of Otx2 in vitro markedly increased the efficiency of primordial germ cell (PGC)-like cell differentiation and prolonged the period of PGC competence. In the absence of Otx2 activity, differentiation of PGC-like cells became independent of the otherwise essential cytokine signals, with germline entry initiating even in the absence of the PGC transcription factor BLIMP1. [Nature] Abstract | Press Release | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)Scientists found that hypertrophic signaling was not effectively activated during monolayer-based cardiac differentiation, thereby preventing expression of HOPX and its activation of downstream genes that govern late stages of cardiomyocyte maturation. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Editorial | Graphical Abstract Microglia Innately Develop within Cerebral Organoids The authors showed that microglia can innately develop within a cerebral organoid model and display their characteristic ramified morphology. The transcriptome and response to inflammatory stimulation of these organoid-grown microglia closely mimicked the transcriptome and response of adult microglia acutely isolated from post mortem human brain tissue. [Nat Commun] Full Article Researchers investigated emergent systems-level behavior of the intercellular network within ESC populations and corresponding spatial organization during early neural differentiation. [Nat Commun] Full Article Spatiotemporal Mosaic Self-Patterning of Pluripotent Stem Cells Using CRISPR Interference Mosaic knockdown of regulators of cortical tension 1 or cell-cell adhesion 1 resulted in differential patterning within human iPSC colonies due to cellular self-organization, while retaining an epithelial pluripotent phenotype. Knockdown induction stimulated a transient wave of differential gene expression within the mixed populations that stabilized in coordination with observed self-organization. [Elife] Full Article | Press Release Selective Elimination of Culture-Adapted Human Embryonic Stem Cells with BH3 Mimetics Scientists observed that a subpopulation of human ESCs (hESCs) at late passage numbers was highly resistant to various cell death stimuli, such as YM155, a survivin inhibitor. Short-course treatment with a sub-optimal dose of BH3 mimetics induced the spontaneous death of YM155-resistant, but not YM155-sensitive hESCs by disrupting the mitochondrial membrane potential. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Disruption of histone chaperone activities of UBN1 and UBN2 by FID/AAA mutation resulted in the defect of H3.3 deposition at promoters of developmental genes involved in neural differentiation, and subsequently caused the failure of activation of these genes during neural differentiation of mouse ES cells. [BMC Biol] Full Article Researchers showed destabilization of pluripotency-associated gene regulatory networks through increased transcriptional heterogeneity of mouse embryonic stem cells in which paradigmatic histone acetyl-transferase, and candidate noise modulator, Kat2a had been inhibited. [Stem Cells] Abstract Investigators generated iPSCs from patients undergoing hemodialysis due to diabetes nephropathy and glomerulonephritis (HD-iPSCs) as representatives of chronic kidney disease-iPSCs or from healthy controls (HC-iPSCs). HD-iPSCs differentiated into nephron progenitor cells with similar efficiency to HC-iPSCs. [Sci Rep] Full Article Scientists report that during mesendoderm differentiation induced by Activin and Wnt, Activin/Smad2 induced a decrease of the repressive histone modification H3K27me3 by promoting the proteasome-dependent degradation of EZH2. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Cell Therapy News & Mesenchymal Cell News. | |
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REVIEWSIn concert with CRISPR/Cas9 systems, human iPSC (hiPSC) technology can reveal therapeutic targets in metabolic disorders. The ex vivo CRISPR correction of autologous patient-derived hiPSCs has led to the development of replacement cell therapies, providing better patient prognoses. [Drug Discov Today] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the ESC & iPSC research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSQBRI Forms New Partnership with Harvard Stem Cell Institute The Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), has signed a collaborative research and training agreement with the Harvard Stem Cell Institute in Boston. The five-year initiative includes technical training and research in stem cell biology, which are essential for discovering viable treatments for diabetes. [Qatar Biomedical Research Institute] Press Release ROSLINCT announced it is to receive investment to collaborate with REPROCELL Europe Ltd on a £1.2 million project which will develop a faster, more cost-effective method of producing clinical-grade iPSCs. [Roslin Cell Therapies Limited.] Press Release GenAhead Bio and ERS Genomics Enter into CRISPR/Cas9 License Agreement GenAhead Bio Incorporated and ERS Genomics Limited announced a non-exclusive license agreement to provide GenAhead with access to ERS Genomic’s CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology patents. [GenAhead Bio, Inc.] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSSurging R&D Spending in China Narrows Gap with United States China’s total spending on R&D rose a robust 12.3% last year to a record 1.76 trillion yuan ($254 billion), according to a government report released. Already second in the world in R&D spending behind the United States, China has narrowed the gap. [ScienceInsider] Editorial Ghost Authorship Haunts Industry-Funded Clinical Trials An analysis of industry-funded clinical trials has found that drug companies are often heavily involved in research — but are not always transparent about it. [Nature News] Editorial Major Publishers File Second Lawsuit against ResearchGate ResearchGate, a popular networking platform where scientists can post their published work, has a complicated relationship with academic publishers. A number of them have accused the site of illicitly disseminating copyrighted work, and two of these—Elsevier and the American Chemical Society—filed a lawsuit in Germany last year to try to force ResearchGate to change its practices. [The Scientist] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW 7th International Stem Cell Meeting Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Postdoctoral Position – iPSCs & the Blood-Brain Barrier (Aarhus University) NEW Postdoctoral Fellows – iPSCs & Blood Development (University of Washington) Scientist – Cell Culture Media and Cell Line Development (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.) Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Precision Medicine (Columbia University) Postdoctoral Fellow – Genome Biology (European Molecular Biology Laboratory) Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cells, Development & Cancer (Albert Einstein College of Medicine) Director – Center for Cell Reprogramming (Georgetown University) Assistant Professor – Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology (Columbia University Stem Cell Initiative) Faculty Position – Stem Cell Biology (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center) Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering (Stanford University) 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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