ESC & iPSC News Volume 14.04 | Feb 6 2019

TOP STORY

St. Jude Researchers Discover Key Genomic ‘Management’ Partners in Brain Development

Researchers have discovered how two proteins interact to control hundreds of genes that build the developing human brain. The scientists found that the proteins UTX and 53BP1 link to activate the program by which the genes control the development of immature pluripotent stem cells into functioning neurons and brain structures. [Press release from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital discussing online prepublication in Nature Neuroscience] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Generation of Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Mouse Kidneys in Sall1-Targeted Anephric Rats

Researchers showed that mouse PSCs could efficiently differentiate into the metanephric mesenchyme in rats, allowing the generation of mouse PSC-derived kidneys in anephric Sall1 mutant rats. [Nat Commun] Full Article

iPSC Model of CHRFAM7A Effect on α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Function in the Human Context

Synaptic transmission in the presence of CHRFAM7A demonstrated that PNU-modulated desensitization of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor currents increased as a function of CHRFAM7A dosage. [Transl Psychiatry] Full Article

Resveratrol Enhances Pluripotency of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells by Activating AMPK/Ulk1 Pathway

Investigators demonstrated that resveratrol induced autophagy in mouse ESCs that was provided by the activation of the AMPK/Ulk1 pathway and the concomitant suppression of the activity of the mTORC1 signaling cascade. [Cell Death Discov] Full Article

Repeated Human Deciduous Tooth-Derived Dental Pulp Cell Reprogramming Factor Transfection Yields Multipotent Intermediate Cells with Enhanced iPS Cell Formation Capability

Repeated transfections led to more efficient iPSC generation, with human deciduous tooth-derived dental pulp cells (HDDPCs) exhibiting greater multipotentiality at two weeks post-transfection than the parental intact HDDPCs. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Robust and Efficient Knock-In in Embryonic Stem Cells and Early-Stage Embryos of the Common Marmoset Using the CRISPR-Cas9 System

The use of CRISPR-Cas9, mediated by homologous recombination, enhanced knock-in (KI) efficiency in marmoset ESCs. Furthermore, scientists succeeded in performing KI in early-stage marmoset embryos. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Measles Vector as a Multiple Genes Delivery Platform Facilitating iPSC Reprogramming

Introduction of the four reprogramming factors OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and cMYC via a single, “one-cycle” measles virus (MV) vector efficiently reprogrammed human somatic cells into iPSCs, whereas MV vector genomes were rapidly eliminated in derived iPSCs. [Gene Ther] Abstract

Autonomic Neurons with Sympathetic Character Derived from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

The authors generated neural crest cells, which were purified using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. This was followed by intermediate culture as neural crest spheroids, where the cells could be expanded, and lastly long-term differentiation into neurons. [Curr Protoc Stem Cell Biol] Abstract

Efficient Generation of Trunk Neural Crest and Sympathetic Neurons from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells via a Neuromesodermal Axial Progenitor Intermediate

Researchers describe a detailed protocol for the efficient in vitro generation of trunk neural crest cells and their derivatives from human PSCs. This relied on the induction of an intermediate cell population that exhibited neural and mesodermal potential, resembling the embryonic neuromesodermal progenitors, which generated the postcranial body axis in vivo. [Curr Protoc Stem Cell Biol] Abstract

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Insights into GBA Parkinson’s Disease Pathology and Therapy with Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Model Systems

The authors summarize findings that have emerged from iPSC-based studies in the context of GBA-Parkinson’s disease pathology and therapy. They also highlight current advantages and challenges of stem cell models for neurological disease modeling and drug discovery. [Neurobiol Dis] Abstract

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

Ncardia Launches iPSC-Based Phenotypic Screening Service to Bring Human Disease Biology Earlier into Drug Discovery and Development

Ncardia announced the launch of their DiscoverHIT drug screening platform. The new service enables researchers to access human disease-relevant biology earlier in the drug discovery process with the goal of bringing better medicines to patients faster. [Ncardia] Press Release

Dr. Benjamin Freedman’s Research in Organoids Earns Him Young Investigator Award

Benjamin “Beno” Freedman, PhD, was named STEM CELLS’ Young Investigator of 2018 for his groundbreaking work with organoids in studying kidney structure and disease. [Stem Cells Portal] Press Release

University of California Staff Researchers Opt to Form a Union, Joining Postdocs

After 5 years as a postdoc – four of them at the University of California, Los Angeles – molecular biologist Christina Priest hit the university’s time limit for postdoctoral appointments and transitioned to a university staff position as a project scientist in the same lab. Now an at-will employee in a job with no set end time, she says she finds her work “continuing the project I initiated as a postdoc … not enormously different, [despite] more responsibility.” [Science] Editorial

Thousands of Scientists Run Up against Elsevier’s Paywall

Researchers at German institutions that have let their Elsevier subscriptions lapse while negotiating a new deal are hitting the paywall for the publisher’s most recent articles around 10,000 times a day, according to Elsevier – which publishes more than 400,000 papers each year. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW EMBO Workshop: Bridging Cell & Tissue Mechanics to Fate Specification in Development
April 2-5, 2019
Santiago, Chile

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

NEW PhD Position – Stem Cell Research (Luxembourg Institute of Health)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Science and Genome Editing (Max Delbrück Center For Molecular Medicine)

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

Scientist – Cell Culture Media and Cell Line Development (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Discovery Oncology (Merck)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cells & Neurodegeneration (Lund University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology (City of Hope)

Senior Laboratory Research Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Research (The Francis Crick Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Genetics and Epigenomics of iPSC Biology (Stanford University)

Assistant Associate Professor/Professor in Residence – Stem Cell Program (UC Davis)

Postdoctoral Positions – PSC-Derived Human Lung Organoids (Columbia University Irving Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Human iPSC Cell Differentiation Research (Boston Children’s Hospital)

Assistant/Associate Adjunct Professor – Cardiovascular Medicine (UC Davis)

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