ESC & iPSC News Volume 14.29 | Jul 31 2019

TOP STORY

Nanoscale Architecture of the Cortical Actin Cytoskeleton in Embryonic Stem Cells

Using super-resolution microscopy to investigate the actin cytoskeleton in mouse ESCs, scientists observed that the actin cortex consisted of a distinctively sparse and isotropic network. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

SMYD2 Drives Mesendodermal Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells through Mediating the Transcriptional Activation of Key Mesendodermal Genes

Investigators explored the role of SET and MYND domain‐containing protein 2 (SMYD2) in the self‐renewal and mesendodermal lineage commitment of human ESCs (hESCs). They demonstrated that the expression of SMYD2 was significantly enhanced during mesendodermal but not neuroectodermal differentiation of hESCs. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Elevated Exogenous Pyruvate Potentiates Mesodermal Differentiation through Metabolic Modulation and AMPK/mTOR Pathway in Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Researchers used human ESCs as a model to demonstrate that elevated exogenous pyruvate shifts metabolic balance toward oxidative phosphorylation in both maintenance and differentiation conditions. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Continuous WNT Control Enables Advanced hPSC Cardiac Processing and Prognostic Surface Marker Identification in Chemically Defined Suspension Culture

Feasibility of suspension culture based human PSC-cardiomyocyte production in low-cost, xeno-free media compatible with good manufacturing practice standards is shown. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Study of Bernard-Soulier Syndrome Megakaryocytes and Platelets Using Patient-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Currently, megakaryocytes can be generated from iPSCs to study platelet production under pharmacological or genetic manipulations. Researchers generated iPSC lines from two Bernard-Soulier syndrome patients with mutations in different genes. [Thromb Haemost] Abstract

A Systems-Level Characterization of the Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells into Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The authors combined transcriptome, proteome and phosphoproteome profiling to perform an in-depth, multi-omics study of the human ESCs-to-mesenchymal stem/stromal cells differentiation process. [Mol Cell Proteomics] Abstract

The Role of Insulin as a Key Regulator of Seeding, Proliferation, and mRNA Transcription of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Insulin improved the seeding and proliferation of human induced PSCs (hiPSCs). They also observed an altered cell cycle profile and an increase in apoptosis in hiPSCs in the absence of insulin. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Long Noncoding RNA CCDC144NL-AS1 Knockdown Induces Naïve-Like State Conversion of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Scientists indicated that knockdown of CCDC144NL-AS1 induced naïve-like state conversion of human PSCs in the absence of additional transcription factors or small molecular inhibitors. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Generation of Two Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines NCCSi005A and NCCSi006A from CD4⁺ T Cells of Healthy Individuals of Indian Origin

Human iPSC-lines of Indian origin NCCSi005A and NCCSi006A were established by reprogramming of CD4⁺ T cells, isolated from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of two healthy female donors. [Stem Cell Res] Full Article

Generation of CDMLe012-A-1 Cells: A Pluripotent Human Embryonic Stem Cell Model of Turner’s Syndrome

The CDMLe012-A-1 human ESC line, derived from a day six blastocyst with a normal 46,XX female karyotype spontaneously lost an X-chromosome during cell culture. [Stem Cell Res] Full Article

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The Role of Telomere-Binding Modulators in Pluripotent Stem Cells

The authors discuss how telomeres and telomere-associated factors participate in and regulate the maintenance of stem cell pluripotency. [Protein Cell] Full Article

Concise Review: Epigenetic Regulation of Transition among Different Pluripotent States

Researchers reviewed studies on various pluripotent states, with a highlight on the epigenetic regulation during the interconversion. [Stem Cells] Abstract

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

BioTime Announces Name Change to Lineage Cell Therapeutics

BioTime, Inc. announced it is launching a new corporate brand, including a change of its corporate name to Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc., effective August 12, 2019. [BioTime, Inc.] Press Release

SpaceX Dragon en Route to Space Station with NASA Science, Cargo

A SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft is on its way to deliver the second commercial crew docking port and about 5,000 pounds of science investigations and supplies for the International Space Station. [National Aeronautics and Space Administration] Press Release

Japan Approves First Human-Animal Embryo Experiments

A Japanese stem-cell scientist is the first to receive government support to create animal embryos that contain human cells and transplant them into surrogate animals since a ban on the practice was overturned earlier this year. Hiromitsu Nakauchi, who leads teams at the University of Tokyo and Stanford University in California, plans to grow human cells in mouse and rat embryos and then transplant those embryos into surrogate animals. [Nature News] Editorial

NIH Announces Details of Human Fetal Tissue Research Restrictions

On July 26, the National Institutes of Health announced new restrictions on human fetal tissue research for scientists applying for grants using the material from elective abortions. Starting in September, scientists writing grants for experiments that involve this type of fetal tissue will be required to explain why other tissue types can’t be used and where the researchers plan to get the tissue. [The Scientist] Editorial

China’s Scientists Alarmed, Bewildered by Growing Anti-Chinese Sentiment in the United States

Scientists in China are concerned about what they see as growing anti-Chinese sentiment in the United States. They dismiss claims of a vast conspiracy to steal US intellectual property and worry that new visa restrictions, scrutiny of export of scientific devices, and US investigations of Chinese and Chinese American scientists will hinder international collaborations. That could harm both countries’ research efforts as well as global scientific progress, many say. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Hardline Brexit Stance Stokes Fears for Scientists

In his inaugural speech last week, Johnson cited the “extraordinary” UK bioscience sector and pledged to ditch European rules that he says have hampered the development of genetically modified crops. He said the nation should develop its own multibillion-dollar GPS satellite system, presumably a response to the EU plan to eliminate the ability of the U.K. government to tap into a secure signal from the European Galileo GPS system. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Wnt Signaling Networks in Development, Disease and Regeneration
August 11-16, 2019
West Dover, Vermont, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Associate – Cancer and Glioma Stem Cell Biology (Weill Cornell Medicine)

Scientific Communications Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Stem Cell Metabolism (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow Positions – Cancer Research (Nationwide Children’s Hospital)

Tenure-Track Faculty Position – Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Research Technician – Beta Cell Production from Human PSCs (Helmholtz Zentrum München)

Senior Scientist – Cell Engineering and Characterization (Merck & Co., Inc)

Associate Professor – Developmental and Stem Cell Biology (The University of Hong Kong)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Striated Muscle Regeneration (Duke University)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Cystic Fibrosis Stem Cell Models (The University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Pluripotent Stem Cells & Joint Tissue Development (Boston Children’s Hospital)

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

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