ESC & iPSC News Volume 7.23 | Jun 13 2012

Nucleostemin Maintains Self-Renewal of Embryonic Stem Cells and Promotes Reprogramming of Somatic Cells to Pluripotency
The authors reported that nucleostemin is required for mouse embryogenesis to reach blastulation, maintenance of embryonic stem cell self-renewal, and mammary epithelial cell reprogramming to induced pluripotent stem cells. [J Cell Biol] Abstract

Specific Mitochondrial DNA Mutation in Mice Regulates Diabetes and Lymphoma Development
Using transmitochondrial mice, which were generated previously by introducing G13997A mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from mouse tumor cells into mouse embryonic stem cells, researchers provided convincing evidence showing that G13997A mtDNA regulates diabetes development, lymphoma formation, and metastasis – but not aging – in this model. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

HIF-2α Suppresses p53 to Enhance the Stemness and Regenerative Potential of Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Scientists have uncovered a unique transient reprogramming activity in human embryonic stem cells, the “enhanced stemness” reprogramming where a highly cytoprotective and undifferentiated state is achieved by transiently suppressing p53 activity. They suggest that this transient reprogramming is a form of stem cell altruism that benefits the surrounding tissues during the process of tissue regeneration. [Stem Cells]
Abstract | Press Release

Regulation of Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency by Heat Shock Protein 90
Investigators report that the molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90 is essential for mouse embryonic stem cell pluripotency through regulating multiple pluripotency factors, including Oct4, Nanog and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3. [Stem Cells] Abstract

High-Purity Enrichment of Functional Cardiovascular Cells from Human iPS Cells
Researchers developed a highly reproducible method that can simultaneously enrich a large number of cardiomyocytes and cardiac smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells from human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells with high purity. [Cardiovasc Res] Abstract

Fibronectin Stimulates Migration through Lipid Raft Dependent NHE-1 Activation in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells: Involvement of RhoA, Ca²⁺/CaM, and Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase
Researchers found that fibronectin stimulated mouse embryonic stem cells migration and proliferation through Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger (NHE)-1 activation, which were mediated by lipid raft-associated caveolin-1, Ras homolog gene family member A (RhoA)/Rho-associated protein kinase, and Ca²⁺/calmodulin (CaM) signaling pathways. [Biochim Biophys Acta] Abstract

Cyclic Mechanical Strain Maintains Nanog Expression through Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase/Akt Signaling in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
To investigate the effects of mechanical strain on mouse embryonic stem cell fate, researchers examined the expression of Nanog, which is an essential regulator of self-renewal and pluripotency as well as Nanog-associated intracellular signaling during uniaxial cyclic mechanical strain. [Exp Cell Res] Abstract

Osteoblast Differentiation of Murine Embryonic Stem Cells as a Model to Study the Embryotoxic Effect of Compounds
Scientists evaluated the effect of five teratogenic compounds as well as one non-teratogenic compound on the differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells into osteoblasts and compared results with those in the classical embryonic stem cell test. [Toxicol In Vitro] Abstract

TeSR™-E8™ and STEMdiff™: New Products to Advance Research on Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
STEMCELL Technologies Inc. announced its plans to release a series of new products to advance research and translational applications for human pluripotent stem cells. [STEMCELL Technologies Inc.]
Press Release

Gladstone Investigator Shinya Yamanaka Receives Millennium Technology Award
This award recognizes Dr. Yamanaka’s discovery of a way to turn adult skin cells into cells that act like embryonic stem cells. This discovery has since altered the fields of cell biology and stem cell research, offering new hope for the future of both personalized and regenerative medicine. [The J. David Gladstone Institutes] Press Release

Cellular Dynamics Launches MyCell™ Services
Cellular Dynamics International, Inc. announced the launch of its MyCell™ Services. These services include novel induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell line reprogramming, genetic engineering and differentiation of iPS cells into commercially available iCell^® terminal tissue cells. [Cellular Dynamics International, Inc.]
Press Release

BGI, GE Healthcare Team Up on Pioneering Stem Cell Science Projects
General Electric (GE) Healthcare and BGI jointly announced a pioneering multi-year research collaboration in stem cell science. [BGI] Press Release

White House Petition Urging Open Access Reaches 25,000 Signers
A petition urging the White House to expand federal policies requiring free access to taxpayer-funded research papers has gotten the 25,000 signatures needed to trigger a response. [White House, United States] Press Release

French Research Unions Challenge Plan to Focus Science Funding
The French scientific community has brought legal action against the country’s new government in order to cancel €7.7 billion worth of funding agreements intended for the development of national excellence clusters. [Excellence Initiatives Program, France] Press Release

Controversial Texas ‘Incubator’ Grant Will Undergo Scientific Review
The Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas says that a controversial “incubator” grant awarded to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston will be reevaluated by both scientific and business experts. The institute also plans a broad reconsideration of some of its aims and procedures. [Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas, United States] Press Release

Scientist – Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – Epithelial Cell Research (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Business Analyst – Product Management (STEMSOFT Software, Inc.)

Scientist – hPSC Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – Mesenchymal Cell Research (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Associate – Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Associate – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Contract Assay Services (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Media Development (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Stem Cell Researcher (BioTalentum Ltd.)

Research Scientist (Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Mouse Embryogenesis (European Molecular Biology Laboratory)


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