ESC & iPSC News 13.42 October 24, 2018 | |
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TOP STORYScientists demonstrated that 5-formylcytosine (5fC)-associated nucleosomes at enhancers in the mammalian hindbrain and heart were linked to elevated gene expression. They also revealed the formation of a reversible-covalent Schiff base linkage between lysines of histone proteins and 5fC within nucleosomes in a cellular environment. [Nat Chem] Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)A Distinct Isoform of ZNF207 Controls Self-Renewal and Pluripotency of Human Embryonic Stem Cells In human ESCs, ZNF207 partnered with master pluripotency transcription factors (TFs) to govern self-renewal and pluripotency while simultaneously controlling commitment of cells towards ectoderm through direct regulation of neuronal TFs, including OTX2. [Nat Commun] Full Article Researchers identified early Parkinson’s disease pathogenic events by developing methodology that utilizes recent innovations in human PSCs and chemical sensors of HSP90-incorporating chaperome networks. [Nat Commun] Full Article Scientists differentiated Huntington’s disease (HD) and non-diseased iPSCs into functional cortical neurons. While HD patient iPSCs could successfully differentiate toward a cortical fate in culture, the resulting neurons displayed altered transcriptomics, morphological and functional phenotypes indicative of altered corticogenesis in HD. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract The K120R mutation renders the p53 protein disabled for acetylation and, as a result, defective for apoptotic function, which provides a mechanistic link between the missense mutation and tumorigenesis. Researchers identified that an accidental splicing site generated a defective transcript variant with a frame-shifted premature termination codon which was subjected to nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. [Oncogene] Abstract Investigators generated induced pluripotent stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons from four multiple system atrophy patients and four healthy controls and from two monozygotic twins discordant for the disease. They demonstrated an aberrant autophagic flow and a mitochondrial dysregulation involving respiratory chain activity, mitochondrial content, and CoQ10 biosynthesis. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article Connexin 43-Mediated Mitochondrial Transfer of iPSC-MSCs Alleviates Asthma Inflammation Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) were formed between iPSC-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and epithelial cells, and mitochondrial transfer from iPSC-MSCs to epithelial cells via TNTs was observed both in vitro and in mice. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Comparative Genomic Analysis of Embryonic, Lineage-Converted, and Stem Cell-Derived Motor Neurons Scientists identified differences in Fas signaling, the Hox code, and synaptic gene expression between lineage-converted and directed differentiation motor neurons that affect their utility in translational studies. [Development] Abstract Investigators demonstrated that starting from human PSCs, their in vitro protocol generated a pool of nephrogenic progenitors at the renal vesicle stage, which could be further directed into specialized nephronal cell types including mesangial-, proximal tubular-, distal tubular, collecting duct epithelial cells, and podocyte precursors after 14 days. [Cell Mol Life Sci] Abstract Significantly fewer O4-positive cells developed from schizophrenia versus healthy control lines. A correlation between myelin content in white matter in vivo, estimated by magnetization transfer ratio and number of O4-positive cells in vitro was also observed across all time points, reaching significance for mature oligodendrocytes at day 85 in culture. [Transl Psychiatry] Full Article CRISPR/Cas9-mediated ZEB1 depletion did not impede neural fate commitment, but prevented human ESC-derived neural precursors from differentiating into neurons, indicating that ZEB1 was required for neuronal differentiation. [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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REVIEWSStem Cells, Genome Editing, and the Path to Translational Medicine The authors focus on disorders of the central nervous system and explore how advances in human PSCs coincide with evolutions in genome engineering and genomic technologies to provide realistic opportunities to tackle some of the most devastating complex disorders. [Cell] Full Article Metabolic and Mechanical Cues Regulating Pluripotent Stem Cell Fate Investigators describe how cellular mechanics and metabolic characteristics regulate embryonic development in vivo and describe the role of these cues in the regulation of pluripotency and differentiation in vitro. [Trends Cell Biol] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the ESC & iPSC research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSSTEMCELL Technologies announced it has filed a Type II Drug Master File (DMF) to the FDA for the Cellular Therapy Ancillary Material mTeSR™1 and has been issued DMF# 18339. [STEMCELL Technologies Inc.] Press Release NSCF, Summit for Stem Cell Foundation, The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, and Space Tango announced a bi-coastal research collaboration to study Parkinson’s disease and primary progressive multiple sclerosis in microgravity. [NSCF] Press Release Cellect Biotechnology Ltd. announced that it has successfully developed for industrialization its first in kind new technology as an integral part of Cellect’s ApoTainer™. The new technology utilizes FasL-coated magnetic beads for maximizing efficacy and scalability of stem cell-based products’ manufacturing. [Cellect Biotechnology Ltd. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release Synergy Grants: €250 Million for World Class Science Twenty seven research groups across Europe have won highly-coveted ERC Synergy Grants. Worth in total €250 million, this funding enables groups of two to four lead researchers to bring together complementary skills, knowledge and resources to jointly address research problems at the frontiers of knowledge. [European Research Council] Press Release U of T Researcher James Till Receives International Honor James Till, professor emeritus in the department of medical biophysics, is the inaugural recipient of the Edogawa-Niche Prize. Till will be officially honored in Tokyo, Japan at the 2018 Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine NICHE International Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine meeting. [University of Toronto] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSAzar Is Empowering Anti-Fetal Tissue Research Ideologues at the Expense of Science Earlier this month, Alex Azar, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, visited South America, where he touted the work the United States has done to halt the spread of diseases in the region. But the same week Azar that was praising U.S.-driven health care successes abroad, he put the scientific advances of tomorrow at risk by prioritizing a far-right political ideology ahead of evidence and the health of the public. [STAT News] Editorial First Analysis of ‘Pre-Registered’ Studies Shows Sharp Rise in Null Findings Studies that fail to find a positive result are often filed away, never to see the light of day, which leads to a publication bias that compromises the credibility of scientific literature. An analysis now suggests that registering and peer-reviewing study protocols before research is conducted could improve this ‘file-drawer problem’, and help to correct the existing publication bias towards positive findings. [Nature News] Editorial Hard Brexit Could Cripple UK Science, Say Nobel Prizewinners A coalition of Nobel laureates has said a hard Brexit could cripple UK science, in a letter to Theresa May and the European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker. The letter, signed by 29 Nobel prizewinners and six Fields medalists, says the UK “must now strive to ensure that as little harm as possible is done to research”. [The Guardian] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW 15th Annual Stem Cell Symposium: Stem Cells B2B – Bench to Bedside Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Staff Scientist – Mouse Genome Engineering (Wellcome Sanger Institute) Scientist – Cell Culture Media and Cell Line Development (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.) Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cells and Diabetes (A*STAR) Postdoctoral Fellows – iPSCs & Blood Development (University of Washington) 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) 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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