ESC & iPSC News Volume 7.46 | Nov 21 2012

Facilitators and Impediments of the Pluripotency Reprogramming Factors’ Initial Engagement with the Genome
The ectopic expression of transcription factors can reprogram cell fate, yet it is unknown how the initial binding of factors to the genome relates functionally to the binding seen in the minority of cells that become reprogrammed. The authors report a map of Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc on the human genome during the first 48 hours of reprogramming fibroblasts to pluripotency. [Cell]
Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Distinct Metabolic Flow Enables Large-Scale Purification of Mouse and Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes
Investigators report a nongenetic method for mass-producing cardiomyocytes from mouse and human pluripotent stem cell derivatives that is based on the marked biochemical differences in glucose and lactate metabolism between cardiomyocytes and noncardiomyocytes, including undifferentiated cells. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Polycomb PHF19 Binds H3K36me3 and Recruits PRC2 and Demethylase NO66 to Embryonic Stem Cell Genes during Differentiation
The authors proposed a model whereby PHF19 functions during mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation to transiently bind the trimethylated histone H3 Lys36 (H3K36me3) mark via its Tudor domain, forming essential contact points that allow recruitment of Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) and H3K36me3 demethylase activity to active gene loci during their transition to a Polycomb-repressed state. [Nat Struct Mol Biol] Abstract

In Vivo Directed Differentiation of Pluripotent Stem Cells for Skeletal Regeneration
Researchers evaluated the ability of an osteogenic microniche consisting of a hydroxyapatite-coated, bone morphogenetic protein-2-releasing poly-l-lactic acid scaffold placed within the context of a macroenvironmental skeletal defect to guide in vivo differentiation of both embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release

Regulation of Endodermal Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells through Integrin-ECM Interactions
Data provide evidence that fibronectin (FN) and vitronectin (VTN) promote endoderm differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) through interaction with FN-binding integrin α5 and VTN-binding integrin αV, and that extracellular matrix (ECM) protein-integrin interactions are required for hESC differentiation into functionally mature cells. [Cell Death Differ] Full Article

Transcription Elongation Factor Tcea3 Regulates the Pluripotent Differentiation Potential of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells, via the Lefty1-Nodal-Smad2 Pathway
Researchers report that the transcription elongation factor Tcea3 is highly enriched in mouse embryonic stem cells and plays important roles in regulating the differentiation. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Co-Motif Discovery Identifies an Esrrb-Sox2-Dna Ternary Complex as a Mediator of Transcriptional Differences between Mouse Embryonic and Epiblast Stem Cells
Through the use of knockdown experiments researchers argued that the Esrrb-Sox2 complex is an arbiter of gene expression differences between embryonic stem cells and epiblast stem cells. [Stem Cells] Abstract

High-Frequency Hippocampal Oscillations Activated by Optogenetic Stimulation of Transplanted Human ESC-Derived Neurons
Using multielectrode array recordings, researchers reported activation of high-frequency oscillations in the ß and γ ranges (10-100 Hz) in the host hippocampal network via targeted optogenetic stimulation of transplanted human embryonic stem cell (ESC)-derived neurons. [J Neurosci] Abstract | Press Release

Chromatin Decondensation and Nuclear Softening Accompany Nanog Downregulation in Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers showed that naïve embryonic stem cells decondense their chromatin in the course of downregulating the pluripotency marker Nanog before they initiate lineage commitment. [Biophys J] Abstract

Mediator and SAGA Have Distinct Roles in Pol II Preinitiation Complex Assembly and Function
A key feature of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) preinitiation complexes (PICs) is their ability to coordinate transcription initiation with chromatin modification and remodeling. To understand how this coordination is achieved, researchers employed extensive proteomic and mechanistic analyses to study the composition and assembly of PICs in HeLa cell and mouse embryonic stem cell nuclear extracts. [Cell Rep]
Abstract | Full Article

A Role for Polyamine Regulators in ESC Self-Renewal
The authors review the polyamine pathway and discuss how it can impact polyamine levels, cellular methylation and hypusinated EIF5A levels. They also discuss how it could feed into regulation of embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal and directed differentiation. [Cell Cycle] Full Article

Pluripotent Stem Cells for Modeling Neurological Diseases
Researchers summarize the recent advances in establishing patient embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells to model various neurological diseases. [Exp Cell Res] Abstract

NeoStem Receives Notification of $1.2 Million NIH Grant Award for First Clinical Study of VSEL^TM Technology in Humans
NeoStem, Inc. announced that it has been awarded a two year grant totaling $1,221,854 for “Repair of Bone Defects with Human Autologous Pluripotent Very Small Embryonic-Like Stem Cells (VSEL)”, grant number 2R44DE022493-02A1, from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). [NeoStem, Inc.] Press Release

Geron Announces Non-Binding Letter of Intent with BioTime Regarding Stem Cell Assets
Geron Corporation announced that the company has entered into a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) with BioTime, Inc. and BioTime’s recently formed subsidiary, BioTime Acquisition Corporation (BAC). The LOI contains broad terms of a potential transaction through which Geron would contribute to BAC its intellectual property and other assets related to Geron’s discontinued human embryonic stem cell programs. [Geron Corporation] Press Release

The University of Cambridge Enterprise Fund Has Made Its First Investments in Three Companies: Cambridge CMOS Sensors, Inotec AMD and DefiniGEN
DefiniGEN has been formed to supply human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cells to the drug discovery and regenerative medicine sectors. The company is based on the research of Dr Ludovic Vallier, Dr Tamir Rashid and Professor Roger Pedersen of the Anne McLaren Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine. [Cambridge Enterprise, University of Cambridge] Press Release

Scientists Lobby Three E.U. Presidents to Prevent Budget Cuts
A delegation led by two Nobel laureates held sequential meetings with the European Union’s three presidents-European Parliament President Martin Schulz, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso-to lobby them to spare research funding from looming cuts in the European Union’s budget. [European Council, European Union] Press Release

Irish Science Adviser Office Axed
The Irish government has abolished the chief science adviser’s office and transferred its responsibilities to the head of Science Foundation Ireland, the country’s largest research-funding agency. [Science Foundation Ireland, Ireland] Press Release

Berlin Aims to Create Research Powerhouse
The mayor of Berlin proudly announced an opulent deal to boost the city’s scattered health-research base, sweetened with a hefty chunk of federal funding. Those in charge of the new Berlin Institute of Health that was created by the deal believe that it could rival research powerhouses in the United States and Britain. [Berlin Institute of Health, Germany] Press Release

Novel Assays for Screening the Effects of Chemical Toxicants on Cell Differentiation (SBIR [R43])(RFA-ES-13-003) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

NEW 2013 Cell Line Development and Engineering
February 11-15, 2013
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February 26-28, 2013
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May 21-23, 2013
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Scientist or Engineer – hPSC Bioengineer (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

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Stem Cell Researcher (BioTalentum Ltd.)

Postdoctoral Fellow in Stem Cell Tissue Engineering (Stanford University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Tumor Stem Cells (Cancer Institute of New Jersey)

PhD Student – Biochemical Analysis of Human Embryonic Stem Cells Differentiation (Helmholtz Zentrum München)

Postdoctoral Position – Functional Genomics of ESCs & iPSCs (University of Cologne)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Genomics (University of Virginia)


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