ESC & iPSC News Volume 6.08 | Mar 2 2011

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    ESC & iPSC News 6.08, March 2, 2011

         In this issue: Science News | Current Publications | Industry News | Policy News | Events
     

    TOP STORY

    Copy Number Variation and Selection During Reprogramming to Pluripotency
    Researchers show that significantly more copy number variations are present in early-passage human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells than intermediate passage human iPS cells, fibroblasts or human embryonic stem cells. [Nature]

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    SCIENCE NEWS
    Aging, Interrupted
    Researchers report that they successfully generated induced pluripotent stem cells from skin cells obtained from patients with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria — who age eight to 10 times faster than the rest of us — and differentiated them into smooth muscle cells displaying the telltale signs of vascular aging. [Press release from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies discussing online prepublication in Nature]

    Stem Cell Study Could Aid Motor Neuron Disease Research
    Scientists have discovered a new way to generate human motor nerve cells in a development that will help research into motor neuron disease. A team has created a range of motor neurons from human embryonic stem cells in the laboratory. [Press release from the University of Cambridge discussing online prepublication in Nature Communications]

    Researchers First Worldwide to Generate Pluripotent Stem Cells from Horses
    In a world first, pluripotent stem cells have been generated from horses by a team of researchers. [Press release from the University of Montreal discussing online prepublication in Stem Cell Reviews and Reports]

    Geron Announces Preclinical Study Data of GRNCM1
    Geron Corporation announced preclinical study data showing positive effects of GRNCM1, Geron’s cardiomyocyte product derived from human embryonic stem cells, in a small animal model of acute heart damage. [Press release from Geron Corporation discussing research presented at the Keystone Symposium on Mechanisms of Cardiac Growth, Death and Regeneration]

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    CURRENT PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by Impact Factor of the Journal)

    Recapitulation of Premature Aging with iPSCs from Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome
    Researchers report the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from fibroblasts obtained from patients with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome. [Nature]

    Endogenous Retroviruses and Neighboring Genes Are Coordinately Repressed by LSD1/KDM1A
    Findings suggest that ancient retroviral insertions were used to co-opt regulatory sequences targeted by KDM1A for epigenetic silencing of cell fate genes during early mammalian embryonic development. [Genes Dev]

    Genome-Wide Analysis of Target Genes Regulated by HoxB4 in Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells Developing from Embryonic Stem Cells
    Investigators performed a genome-wide analysis of HoxB4 and global gene expression profiling using embryonic stem cell-derived hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. [Blood]

    In Vitro Generation of HSC-Like Cells from Murine ESCs/iPSCs by Enforced Expression of LIM-Homeobox Transcription Factor Lhx2
    Results demonstrate that ectopic expression of Lhx2 confers an in vivo engrafting capacity to embryonic stem cell (ESC)/induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived hematopoietic cells and in vivo behavior of iPSC-derived hematopoietic cells is almost identical to that of ESC-derived cells. [Blood]

    Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells are Capable of B-Cell Lymphopoiesis
    Researchers have been able to demonstrate for the first time that human induced pluripotent stem cells are able to undergo hematopoiesis that contributes to the B cell lymphoid lineage. [Blood]

    Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein in Retinoic Acid-Induced Chromatin Remodeling of Oct4 Gene Promoter
    This study demonstrates a functional role for Pml in maintaining a specific open chromatin conformation of the Oct4 promoter region for its constant expression in stem cells; and illustrates the mechanism underlying RA-induced chromatin remodeling of Oct4 gene in differentiating cells, in which Pml plays a critical role. [Stem Cells]

    Multipotent Adult Germline Stem Cells and Embryonic Stem Cells Functional Proteomics Revealed an Important Role of Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 5A (Eif5a) in Stem Cell Differentiation
    In order to highlight the protein profile changes associated with stem cell differentiation, retinoic acid treated mouse stem cells (multipotent adult germline stem cells and embryonic stem cells) were compared to non-treated stem cells. [J Proteome Res]

    Collagen I Regulates the Self-Renewal of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Through Alpha2Beta1 Integrin- and DDR1-Dependent Bmi-1
    Results indicate that collagen I stimulates the self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells mediated by Bmi-1 through alpha2beta1 integrin-dependent ILK, Notch, Gli-1, and DDR1-dependent Ras, PI3K/Akt, and ERK. [J Cell Physiol]

    L3MBTL1 Deficiency Directs the Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells Towards Trophectoderm
    Data demonstrate that depletion of L3MBTL1 does not affect human embryonic stem cell self-renewal, rather, it enhances differentiation towards extra-embryonic trophoblast tissues. [Stem Cells Dev]

    Isolation and Characterization of Node/Notochord-Like Cells from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
    Researchers used a targeted Noto-GFP reporter to isolate and characterize node/notochord-like cells derived from mouse embryonic stem cells. [Stem Cells Dev]

    The Amino Acid Transporter SNAT2 Mediates L-Proline Induced Differentiation of ES Cells
    Data reveal an unexpected role for amino acid uptake and the amino acid transporter SNAT2 in regulation of pluripotent cells in culture, and provides a number of specific, inexpensive and non-toxic culture additives with the potential to improve the quality of embryonic stem (ES) cell culture. [Am J Physiol Cell Physiol]

    Retinoid-Independent Motor Neurogenesis from Human Embryonic Stem Cells Reveals a Medial Columnar Ground State
    Researchers investigated the necessity for retinoic acid in motor neurogenesis from human embryonic stem cells. [Nat Commun]

    Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines Derived from Equine Fibroblasts
    Scientists report the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells from equine fibroblasts using a piggyBac transposon-based method to deliver transgenes containing the reprogramming factors Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc, expressed in a temporally regulated fashion. [Stem Cell Rev]

    INDUSTRY NEWS

    Acquisition of iPS Cell Patent License from iPS Academia Japan
    Univercell-Biosolutions S.A.S., a leading provider of human cardiac cells for drug discovery, and iPS Academia Japan, Inc. (Kyoto, Japan), announced a worldwide non-exclusive licensing agreement for iPS Academia Japan’s iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cell) patent portfolio. [Univercell-Biosolutions S.A.S. Press Release]

    ACT Secures Patent to Generate Embryonic Stem Cells Without Embryo Destruction
    Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (ACT), a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced that it has been issued a patent on its “single-blastomere” technique. [Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. Press Release]

    Stem Cell Facility Expands Campus’ Research Capabilities
    The University of California, Merced celebrated the opening of its state-of-the-art Stem Cell Instrumentation Foundry. [University of California, Merced Press Release]

    POLICY NEWS

    Australian Stem Cell Researchers Call for Less Regulatory Red Tape
    With the review the Australian legislation governing the use of human embryos in research under way, Australian stem cell researchers have called for revisions to the legislation to streamline licensing and reduce the administrative burden of conducting embryonic stem cell research. [National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia]

    Oklahoma Moves Towards Outlawing Embryonic Stem Cell Research
    Legislation banning embryonic stem cell research in Oklahoma, United States, was approved by the state’s House Committee last week. [Oklahoma House Committee, United States]

    Big Increase for Indian Research Is Not Good Enough, Say Scientists
    The Indian government plans to spend 21% more this year on science and technology, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced. But some scientists think the government, which finances about 80% of the country’s investment in research and development, should take advantage of a booming economy to enact even larger increases. [Indian Ministry of Science and Technology, India]

    Singapore Infuses Another $1 Billion into R&D Fund
    Singapore’s National Research Fund will get an extra $1 billion in its budget for the coming year. [National Research Fund, Singapore]

    FDA and Georgetown University Medical Center Announce Partnership
    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Georgetown University Medical Center announced a new partnership to stimulate innovation in regulatory science, ethics, education, and training. The partnership enhances the capabilities of both institutions to meet their common goal of improving public health. [Food and Drug Administration, United States]
     
    Research Center’s Death Warrant Signed by NIH Advisers
    The Scientific Management Review Board (SMRB), which was created by Congress to offer advice on National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) structure, met for one and a half hours by teleconference to hear updates on two changes — the creation of the new center, which SMRB recommended, and NIH’s plan to simultaneously dismantle National Center for Research Resources. [National Institutes of Health, United States]
     
    Request for Comments on Human Subjects Protections in Scientific Studies (FR Doc. 2011-4658) [Department of Health and Human Services, United States]
     
    National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2011-4360) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
     
    National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2011-4363) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

    Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2011-4634) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
     
    Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2011-4298) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
     
    Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2011-4361) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

    EVENTS

    NEW Stem Cell Programming & Reprogramming
    December 8-11, 2011
    Lisbon, Portugal

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

    JOB OPPORTUNITIES

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    Assistant Professor (University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Center for Cellular and Molecular Engineering)
     
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    Postdoctoral Position – Germline Stem Cells (R. L. Brinster, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania)

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    Postdoctoral Fellow – Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells (Mount Sinai School of Medicine)

    Research Technician Position in Human Stem Cells (University of Pittsburgh)

    Stem Cell Biologist (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)
     
    Senior Scientist – Embryonic Stem Cells – Hepatocytes (Hays Pharma)

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