ESC & iPSC News Volume 6.21 | Jun 1 2011

Multilineage-Differentiating Stress-Enduring (Muse) Cells Are a Primary Source of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Human Fibroblasts
Results demonstrate that in adult human fibroblasts a subset of preexisting adult stem cells whose properties are similar in some respects to those of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells selectively become iPS cells, but the remaining cells make no contribution to the generation of iPS cells. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

Scientists Turn Human Skin Cells Directly into Neurons, Skipping iPS Stage
Human skin cells can be converted directly into functional neurons in a period of four to five weeks with the addition of just four proteins, according to a study. [Press release from Stanford University School of Medicine discussing online prepublication in Nature]

Researchers Move Step Closer to Using iPS Cells in Regenerative Medicine
A group of researchers have succeeded in producing a new type of iPS cells that is less carcinogenic, marking a step closer toward the use of iPS cells in regenerative medicine, it has been announced. [Press release from The Mainichi Daily News discussing online prepublication in Cell Stem Cell]

Researchers Discover Key Molecule for Stem Cell Pluripotency
Researchers have discovered what enables embryonic stem cells to differentiate into diverse cell types and thus to be pluripotent. [Press release from Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch discussing online prepublication in EMBO Reports]

Induction of Human Neuronal Cells by Defined Transcription Factors
Researchers show that three transcription factors (Brn2, Ascl1 and Myt1l) can generate functional neurons from human pluripotent stem cells as early as 6 days after transgene activation. [Nature]

Reprogramming of Mouse and Human Cells to Pluripotency Using Mature MicroRNAs
Scientists show that it is possible to reprogram mouse and human cells to pluripotency by direct transfection of mature double-stranded microRNAs. [Cell Stem Cell]

Rapamycin and Other Longevity-Promoting Compounds Enhance the Generation of Mouse Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Investigators report that inhibition of the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway by rapamycin or PP242 enhances the efficiency of reprogramming to induced pluripotent stem cells. [Aging Cell]

Evidence for the Transmission of Neoplastic Properties from Transformed to Normal Human Stem Cells
Here, using a uniquely developed in vitro co-culture system for human embryonic stem cells, investigators examined the interactions between transformed and normal human stem cells. [Oncogene]

E-Cadherin Is Crucial for Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency and Can Replace OCT4 During Somatic Cell Reprogramming
Scientists report new functions of the cell-adhesion molecule E-cadherin in murine pluripotent cells. [EMBO Rep]

A System for Imaging the Regulatory Noncoding Xist RNA in Living Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
To understand localization of Xist over one X chromosome better investigators aimed to develop a system for investigating Xist in living cells. [Mol Biol Cell]

Calcium Homeostasis in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes
Researchers investigated the calcium handling properties of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and compared with those from human embryonic stem cells. [Stem Cell Rev]

The Retinol Signaling Pathway in Mouse Pluripotent P19 Cells
Scientists investigated whether the mouse pluripotent P19 cell metabolizes retinol to all-trans-retinoic acid and thus can be used in a cell-based screen for disruptors of the pathway. [J Cell Biochem]

Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission Funds 36 New Projects in FY 2011
The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission has completed its review of the 180 applications received in response to its three FY 2011 Requests for Applications. [Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund Press Release]

UCSF School of Medicine Names Vice Dean of Education
Catherine Reinis Lucey, M.D., has been appointed vice dean for education in the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, effective September 1. [University of California, San Francisco Press Release]

Two Candidates Nominated to Lead California Stem Cell Agency
Southern California investor Jonathan Thomas and cardiologist turned entrepreneur Frank Litvack have been nominated to lead the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine. [ScienceInsider]

NSF Hopes Time Could Mean Money for Some Biologists
Data from the National Science Foundation (NSF) show that a handful of scientists seeking a research grant from its molecular and cellular biosciences division submit two proposals in the same funding cycle. [National Science Foundation, United States]

U.S. Court Raises Standard for Bringing Down Patents
A U.S. appeals court that specializes in patent disputes made it harder for patents to be declared invalid because of gaps or errors in patent applications. [U.S. Appeals Court, United States]

Panel Wants NIGMS to Stop Funding Glue Grants
An expert panel has urged the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) to scrap an 11-year, $368 million foray into big biology. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

FDA to Make Enforcement and Compliance Activities Accessible Online
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it is disclosing more information about inspections and court actions, and now has a web portal on its enforcement activities as part of Phase II of the agency’s Transparency Initiative. [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

France Set to Uphold Curbs on Embryonic Stem Cells
The National Assembly voted to uphold the curbs in the second reading of the new bioethics law. Conservative legislators and the Roman Catholic Church had protested after an initial Senate vote to authorize this research. [National Assembly, France]

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc No: 2011-12636) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc No: 2011-12940) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc No: 2011-12952) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc No: 2011-13108) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc No: 2011-13110) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Center for Scientific Review; Amended Notice of Meeting (FR Doc No: 2011-12729) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Center for Scientific Review; Amended Notice of Meeting (FR Doc No: 2011-12737) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Center for Scientific Review; Amended Notice of Meeting (FR Doc No: 2011-13079) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Office of the Director Amended Notice of Meeting (FR Doc No: 2011-13353) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Clarification of NIH Fiscal Policy for Grant Awards – FY 2011 (NOT-OD-11-077) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Preventive Controls for Registered Human Food and Animal Food/Feed Facilities; Request for Comments [Docket No. FDA-2011-N-0238] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Draft Guidance for Clinical Investigators, Industry, and FDA Staff: Financial Disclosure by Clinical Investigators; Availability [FR Doc No: 2011-12623] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

NEW World Orphan Drug Congress Asia 2011
September 14-16, 2011
Seoul, Korea

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