ESC & iPSC News Volume 6.29 | Jul 27 2011

Mapping of ‘Sixth Nucleotide’ in Embryonic Stem Cells Indicates it May Activate Genes
Stem cell researchers have generated the first genome-wide mapping of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine — a DNA modification sometimes called the “sixth nucleotide” — in human embryonic stem cells and have discovered that the molecule is found predominantly in genes that are turned on, or active. [Press release from the University of California, Los Angeles discussing online prepublication in Genome Biology]

Researchers Create Reprogrammed Stem Cells for Disease Studies
The University of Michigan’s Consortium for Stem Cell Therapies has achieved another of its primary goals: reprogramming adult skin cells so they behave like embryonic stem cells. [University of Michigan Press Release]

Generation of Healthy Mice from Gene-Corrected Disease-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Using the murine model of tyrosinemia type 1 (fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase [FAH] deficiency; FAH^-/- mice) as a paradigm for orphan disorders, investigators evaluated fibroblast-derived FAH^-/--induced pluripotent stem cells as targets for gene correction in combination with the tetraploid embryo complementation method. [PLoS Biol]

Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Thymic Epithelial Cell Progenitors Enhance T-Cell Reconstitution After Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation
Here, investigators show that transplantation of mouse embryonic stem cell-derived thymic epithelial cell progenitors results in the efficient establishment of thymocyte chimerism and subsequent generation of naïve T cells in both young and old recipients of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. [Blood]

Lineage Restricted Progenitors for the Repopulation of Decellularized Heart
In the present work, scientists compared the differentiation potential of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human mesendodermal cells derived from hESCs, in decellularized hearts under static culture. [Biomaterials]

Rapid and Efficient Generation of Functional Motor Neurons from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Using Gene Delivered Transcription Factor Codes
Researchers evaluated the motor neuron (MN) gene expression profile of retinoic acid/ sonic hedgehog-differentiated human embryonic stem cells to identify rate-limiting factors involved in MN development. [Mol Ther]

Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Neurons Establish Region-Specific, Long-Range Projections in the Adult Brain
Investigators addressed the potential of human embryonic stem cell-derived long-term self-renewing neuroepithelial stem cells to establish axonal projections after transplantation into the adult rodent brain. [Cell Mol Life Sci]

A Comparative Analysis of DNA Methylation Across Human Embryonic Stem Cell Lines
Scientists performed a comparative analysis of the genome wide DNA methylation profiles from three human embryonic stem cell lines. [Genome Biol]

Learning Biomarkers of Pluripotent Stem Cells in Mouse
Investigators assembled gene expression data of pluripotent stem cells and non-pluripotent cells from the mouse. [DNA Res]

Three-Dimensional Co-Culture Facilitates the Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells into Mature Cardiomyocytes
Scientists develop a novel strategy that enhances cardiomyocyte differentiation of embryonic stem cells in collagen matrix three-dimensional culture combined with indirect cardiac fibroblasts co-culture. [J Cell Biochem]

BUSM Awarded $9 Million to Investigate Treatment for Sickle Cell Disease Using iPS Cells
Researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) were recently awarded a five-year $9 million grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to mass-produce sickle cell anemia-specific induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. [EurekAlert! Press Release]

Ten UConn Researchers Receive State Stem Cell Funding
Ten scientists at the University of Connecticut and its Health Center received grant awards totaling $5.7 million from the Connecticut Stem Cell Research Advisory Committee, to support their pioneering embryonic stem cell research. [University of Connecticut Press Release]

Advocates Attempt to Advance Regenerative Medicine with Introduction of HR 1862
The nonprofit Alliance for Regenerative Medicine hopes to accomplish more stem cell-based therapy approvals in part through the Regenerative Medicine Promotion Act of 2011 (HR 1862), which was introduced in May. [Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, United States]

HHS Unveils Plan to Tighten Human Subjects Rules
After 20 years, it’s time for an overhaul. That was the message from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which wants to beef up protections for people participating in research. [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, United States]

Federal Judge Dismisses Stem Cell Suit Against NIH
In a surprise decision, a federal judge ruled today in favor of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in a court battle over the legality of human embryonic stem cell research. [U.S. District Court, United States]

Regulations Proposed for Animal–Human Chimaeras
Animal-human chimeras might be useful to researchers studying human cognition or human-specific pathogens. But it would be ethically unacceptable and should be banned, argues a government-commissioned report from the UK Academy of Medical Sciences. [UK Academy of Medical Sciences, United Kingdom]

Science Board Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting [Docket No. FDA-2011-N-0002] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

NEW Hydra VII: European Summer School on Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine
September 17-23, 2011
Hydra, Greece

NEW 2nd International Conference on Stem Cells and Cancer
October 15-18, 2011
Pune, India

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

Lab Technologist – Tissue Culture (STEMCELL Technologies)

Research and Development Technologist, hPSC Media (STEMCELL Technologies)

Scientist (iPSC) (STEMCELL Technologies)

PhD Research Position in the Department of  Biological Chemistry (Weizmann Institute of Science)

Career Development Fellows (Medical Research Council)

Research Group Leader – Human Epigenomics and Stem Cells (MRC Clinical Sciences Centre)

Postdoctoral Position (Nanyang Technological University)

Human Embryonic Stem Cell Biologist (Matchtech)

Postdoctoral Fellow (Stanford University)

Recruit Top Talent
Reach more than 11,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Jobs are categorized regionally: United States, Canada, Europe, Asia Pacific

Visit here to post your career opportunities.

Have we missed an important article or publication in ESC & iPSC News? Click here to submit!

Comments or Suggestions? Email info@connexoncreative.com with your feedback.