ESC & iPSC News Volume 14.07 | Feb 27 2019

TOP STORY

A Single-Cell Molecular Map of Mouse Gastrulation and Early Organogenesis

Scientists constructed a molecular map of cellular differentiation from pluripotency towards all major embryonic lineages, and explored the complex events involved in the convergence of visceral and primitive streak-derived endoderm. [Nature] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Genome-Wide Stability of the DNA Replication Program in Single Mammalian Cells

Using scRepli-seq, researchers demonstrated that replication-domain organization was conserved among individual mouse ESCs (mESCs). Differentiated mESCs exhibited distinct profiles, which were also conserved among cells. Haplotype-resolved scRepli-seq revealed similar replication profiles of homologous autosomes, while the inactive X chromosome was clearly replicated later than its active counterpart. [Nat Genet] Abstract

Microfluidic Reprogramming to Pluripotency of Human Somatic Cells

Investigators successfully downscaled an eight-day protocol based on daily transfections of mRNA encoding for reprogramming factors and immune evasion proteins. Using this protocol, they obtained human iPSC colonies in a single 27-mm² microfluidic chamber 15 days after seeding ~1,500 cells per independent chamber and under xeno-free defined conditions. [Nat Protoc] Abstract

Precisely Controlling Endogenous Protein Dosage in hPSCs and Derivatives to Model FOXG1 Syndrome

Researchers developed a system in human PSCs (hPSCs) using CRISPR/Cas9 and SMASh technology, with which they could target endogenous proteins for precise dosage control in hPSCs and at multiple stages of neural differentiation. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Ligase 3-Mediated End-Joining Maintains Genome Stability of Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Human ESCs (hESCs) limited the mutagenic potential of ligase 3-mediated end-joining by DNA break end protection involving p53 binding protein 1, which resulted in fast and error-free microhomology-mediated repair and a low mutant frequency in hESCs. [FASEB J] Abstract

Interaction between Sympk and Oct4 Promotes Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Proliferation

Symplekin (Sympk) promoted ESC growth and its overexpression sustained ESC pluripotency, as assessed by teratoma and chimeric mouse formation. Genomic stability was preserved in these cells after long-term passage. The domain of unknown function 3453 in Sympk was required for its interaction with the key pluripotent factor Oct4, and its depletion led to impaired colony formation. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Global Transcriptome Analysis of Pig Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived from Six and Four Reprogramming Factors

The authors used the Illumina RNA sequencing platform to characterize the mRNA expression of four-factor derived and six-factor derived pig iPS cells. They observed the expression levels of whole genes in the established six factors derived iPS cells and parent fibroblasts, and compared them with that of iPS cells with four factors in a public database. [Sci Data] Full Article

Directed Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells to Podocytes under Defined Conditions

In the podocyte differentiation process described, human PSCs were first induced to primitive streak-like cells by activating canonical Wnt signaling. Next, these cells progressed to mesoderm precursors, proliferative nephron progenitors, and eventually became mature podocytes by culturing in a serum-free medium. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Hypoxia Enhances Buffalo Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Proliferation, Stemness, and Reprogramming into Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

The effects of hypoxia on proliferation, stemness, and reprogramming into iPSCs of buffalo adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (bASCs) were examined. bASCs were more efficiently and easily reprogrammed into iPSCs in hypoxic culture conditions and these iPSCs exhibited some characteristics of naïve PSCs. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Line, ZJUCHi002-A, from Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Type 2A (CMT2A) Patient with a Mutation of c.752C>T in MFN2

The human iPSC line ZJUCHi002-A was established from renal epithelial cells present in urine collected from an eight-year-old CMT2A patient carrying point mutation in MFN2 (c.752C>T). [Stem Cell Res] Full Article

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Human-Relevant Preclinical In Vitro Models for Studying Hepatobiliary Development and Liver Diseases Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

The authors address the potential of human-iPSC-based hepatobiliary differentiation technology as a means to study human liver development and hepatic cell fate determination, and to model liver diseases in an effort to develop a new human-relevant preclinical platform for drug development. [Exp Biol Med] Abstract

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

Morphocell Technologies Signs Exclusive License for the Commercialization of Innovative Stem Cell-Derived Encapsulated Liver Tissue Technology

Morphocell Technologies Inc. has negotiated a worldwide exclusive license agreement with Univalor for the commercialization of the stem cell-derived liver tissue technology developed by Dr. Massimiliano Paganelli at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine. Morphocell is developing ReLiver™ ELT, an innovative regenerative medicine product that can be consistently generated from human PSCs. [Morphocell Technologies Inc.] Press Release

$2.3 Million NIH Grant Aims to Help Improve Diversity in Science and Health Care

Through a recent five-year, $2.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), University of Kentucky faculty Don Frazier and Brett Spear will partner with faculty from qualified minority-serving institutions across the U.S. and Puerto Rico to help improve diversity in science and health care. [University of Kentucky] Press Release

The Research Initiative RESTORE Health – Therapies That Cure

RESTORE is a Europe-wide research initiative with a focus on curing disease rather than treating symptoms. The initiative recently secured the support of the European Commission and will receive initial funding totaling €1 million. The Commission also invited the consortium to further develop their concept and to expand their network of participating researchers and institutions in order to make Europe a global leader in advanced therapies. [Universitätsmedizin Berlin] Press Release

High-Profile Subscription Journals Critique Plan S

Publishers of highly selective scholarly journals — including Nature and Science — say that they cannot comply with Plan S, a European-led initiative that mandates free access to research results on publication from 2020, unless its rules are changed. [Nature News] Editorial

Data Sharing Will Be a Major Thrust of Trump’s $500 Million Childhood Cancer Plan

President Donald Trump’s proposal in his State of the Union address to spend $500 million over 10 years on pediatric cancer research will begin in 2020 with a focus on sharing patients’ data, federal officials say. That plan is getting a mixed response from researchers and patient advocates, who also worry that the initiative will come at expense of other parts of the National Cancer Institute’s budget. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

CRISPR Babies Trial May Have Been Government Funded

Before news broke of a trial to genetically alter human embryos using CRISPR, the leader of the project, He Jiankui, claimed in various documents that the experiment was backed by government funding, STAT reports. The papers contradict both the assertion of an investigation by the government of Guangdong Province that He raised funds on his own and He’s own statement in a late-November talk that he had bankrolled the trial from his own savings and startup funds from his university. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW 2^nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT)
April 29-May 2, 2019
Washington, D.C, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellowship – Stem Cells & Drug Screening (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute)

Scientist – Stem Cell Metabolism (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

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

Research Scientist – iPSC-Based Products (Life & Brain GMBH)

Postdoctoral Scholarship – Glioblastoma Stem Cell Research (Lund University)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Discovery Oncology (Merck)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cells & Neurodegeneration (Lund University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology (City of Hope)

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

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

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

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