ESC & iPSC News Volume 7.37 | Sep 19 2012

Single-Cell Expression Analyses during Cellular Reprogramming Reveal an Early Stochastic and a Late Hierarchic Phase
During cellular reprogramming, only a small fraction of cells become induced pluripotent stem cells. Previous analyses of gene expression during reprogramming were based on populations of cells, impeding single-cell level identification of reprogramming events. Here, researchers utilized two gene expression technologies to profile 48 genes in single cells at various stages during the reprogramming process. [Cell]
Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Dynamic and Coordinated Epigenetic Regulation of Developmental Transitions in the Cardiac Lineage
Scientists interrogated the transcriptome and several histone modifications across the genome during defined stages of cardiac differentiation. They found distinct chromatin patterns that are coordinated with stage-specific expression of functionally related genes, including many human disease-associated genes. [Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Epigenomic Annotation of Enhancers Predicts Transcriptional Regulators of Human Neural Crest
To annotate and characterize cis-regulatory elements utilized by the human neural crest cells, scientists coupled a hESC differentiation model with genome-wide profiling of histone modifications and of coactivator and transcription factor occupancy. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Directed Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells to Cerebral Cortex Neurons and Neural Networks
The authors provide a detailed protocol for directing the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells to all classes of cortical projection neurons. [Nat Protoc] Abstract

Identification of a Specific Reprogramming-Associated Epigenetic Signature in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Researchers characterized the epigenomic integrity of 17 human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) lines derived from six different cell types with varied reprogramming efficiencies. They demonstrated that epigenetic aberrations are a general feature of the hiPSC state and are independent of the somatic cell source. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release

Zfp281 Mediates Nanog Autorepression through Recruitment of the NuRD Complex and Inhibits Somatic Cell Reprogramming
Scientists reported that Nanog is subjected to a negative autoregulatory mechanism, i.e., autorepression, in embryonic stem cells, and that such autorepression requires the coordinated action of the Nanog partner and transcriptional repressor Zfp281. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Prevent Allergic Airway Inflammation in Mice
Investigators developed a mouse model of ovalbumin-induced allergic inflammation in both the upper and lower airways and evaluated the effects of the systemic administration of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and bone marrow-derived MSCs on allergic inflammation. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Endogenous Wnt Signaling in Human Embryonic Stem Cells Generates an Equilibrium of Distinct Lineage-Specified Progenitors
Scientists showed using Wnt reporter human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines that the cells are heterogeneous with respect to endogenous Wnt signaling activity. Moreover, the level of Wnt signaling activity in individual cells correlates with differences in clonogenic potential and lineage-specific differentiation propensity. [Nat Commun] Abstract

Myoblasts Derived from Normal hESCs and Dystrophic hiPSCs Efficiently Fuse with Existing Muscle Fibers following Transplantation
The authors developed a two-step procedure to differentiate human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and dystrophic human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) in myogenic cells. When transplanted in the muscle of Rag/mdx mice, these cells participated in muscle regeneration by fusing very well with existing muscle fibers. [Mol Ther] Full Article

Feeder-Free Derivation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells with Messenger RNA
Researchers accelerated the messenger RNA reprogramming process through stepwise optimization of the reprogramming factor cocktail and leveraged these kinetic gains to establish a feeder-free, xeno-free protocol which slashes the time, cost and effort involved in induced pluripotent stem cells derivation. [Sci Rep] Full Article | Press Release

Genetic and Epigenetic Stability of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Researchers summarize the current knowledge of the genomic and epigenomic stability of pluripotent human cells and the implications for stem cell research. [Nat Rev Genet] Abstract

$8.7 Million Awarded to Stem Cell Researchers in Clinical & Basic Biology Grants from the State Stem Cell Agency
Nelson’s Early Translational award and the two Basic Biology IV grants, totaling $8.7 million, continue efforts by the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine to support research designed to take stem cell science from the laboratory to the clinic. [Eli and Edythe Broad Stem Cell Research Center at UCLA] Press Release

NIH Fosters High-Risk, High-Reward Innovation at UCSF
Biomedical researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have won five of 51 prestigious National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director’s New Innovator awards for high-risk, high-reward research, each receiving up to $1.5 million over five years. [The University of California, San Francisco] Press Release

Sequestration Would Cut U.S. Science Budgets by 8.2%, White House Estimates
U.S. government science funding programs would see their budgets cut by 8.2% in 2013 unless Congress agrees on a plan to trim budget deficits by the start of the new year. [White House, United States]
Press Release

South Asian Academies to Boost Science Cooperation
The first summit of South Asian science academies agreed to set up a regional network to foster science collaboration on common challenges related to infectious diseases, the environment and science education. [Summit of South Asian Academies, India] Press Release

European Union Battles Over Research Billions
Tens of billions of euros are at stake as negotiations ramp up to shape Europe’s next seven-year research program. The discussions will cover familiar divisions over applied versus basic research and conflicting national agendas, but the continent’s ongoing financial problems will add an extra measure of anxiety. [European Commission, European Union] Press Release

NEW Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology: Stem Cell Regulation in Homeostasis and Disease
February 24-March 1, 2013
Banff, Canada

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

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

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

Scientific Communications & Publishing Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Quality Control Operations Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Product Manager – Hematopoietic (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Stem Cell Researcher (BioTalentum Ltd.)

Postdoctoral Position – Biomedical Engineering (School of Medicine, Tsinghua University)

Research Associate – Quality Assurance (University of California)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Models of Host-Pathogen Interactions (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute)

Stem Cell Research Technician (University of Nantes, France)

Postdoctoral Position in Stem Cell Laboratory (Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology)


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