ESC & iPSC News Volume 8.11 | Mar 20 2013

Kdm2b Maintains Murine Embryonic Stem Cell Status by Recruiting PRC1 Complex to CpG Islands of Developmental Genes
Scientists showed that the H3K36-specific histone demethylase Kdm2b is highly expressed in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and regulated by the pluripotent factors Oct4 and Sox2 directly. Depletion of Kdm2b in mESCs causes de-repression of lineage-specific genes and induces early differentiation. Kdm2b interacts with the core components of polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) and recruits the complex to the CpG islands of early lineage-specific genes. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract

Complete and Unidirectional Conversion of Human Embryonic Stem Cells to Trophoblast by BMP4
Researchers confirmed that human embryonic stem cells (hESC) grown under the standard conditions on a medium conditioned by mouse embryonic fibroblasts in the presence of bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) and absence of FGF2 on a Matrigel substratum rapidly convert to an epithelium that is largely KRT7⁺ within 48 hours, with minimal expression of mesoderm markers, including T (Brachyury). The experiments demonstrated that the in vitro BMP4/hESC model is valid for studying the emergence and differentiation of trophoblasts. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Full Article

Mechanistic Insight into the Pathology of Polyalanine Expansion Disorders Revealed by a Mouse Model for X Linked Hypopituitarism
Investigators used targeted mutagenesis of embryonic stem (ES) cells to generate mice with a polyalanine expansion mutation in Sox3 that is associated with X-linked Hypopituitarism in humans. By investigating both ES cells and chimeric mice, they showed that endogenous polyalanine expanded SOX3 does not form protein aggregates in vivo but rather is present at dramatically reduced levels within the nucleus of mutant cells. [PLoS Genet] Full Article

Oct4 Interaction with Hmgb2 Regulates Akt Signaling and Pluripotency
Researchers demonstrated that Oct4 post-translational modifications form a positive feedback loop, which promote Akt activation and interaction with Hmgb2 and the SET Complex. This preserves H3K27me3 modifications in daughter progeny and maintains the pluripotent gene expression signature in mESCs. [Stem Cells] Abstract | Full Article

Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 Regulates the Self-Renewal and Pluripotency of Human Embryonic Stem Cells via the Control of the G1/S Transition
Scientists found that heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 expression was localized to undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), and decreased upon differentiation of hESCs. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Delivery of Definable Number of Drug or Growth Factor Loaded Poly(DL-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) Microparticles within Human Embryonic Stem Cell Derived Aggregates
Investigators aimed to create an embryoid body (EB) model with localized drug and/or growth factor delivery directly within the EB. Using poly(DL-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) microparticles (MPs) with an average diameter of 13 µm, they demonstrated controllable incorporation of defined numbers of MPs within human ES cell derived EBs, down to 1 MP per EB. [J Control Release] Abstract

PET Demonstrates Functional Recovery after Transplantation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in a Rat Model of Cerebral Ischemic Injury
Researchers aimed to determine the functionality of the transplanted induced pluripotent stem cells and embryonic stem cells in a rat model of cerebral ischemia with use of ¹⁸F-FDG small-animal positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. [J Nucl Med] Abstract

Embryonic Stem Cell-Based Modeling of Tau Pathology in Human Neurons
The authors explored whether human embryonic stem cell-derived neural stem cells can be exploited to study consequences of an overexpression of two normal N-terminal domains, four microtubule-binding domains tau versus pseudohyperphosphorylated tau directly in human neurons. [Am J Pathol] Abstract

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neural Cells Survive and Mature in the Nonhuman Primate Brain
Investigators showed that transplanted autologous rhesus monkey induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitors survive for up to six months and differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and myelinating oligodendrocytes in the brains of MPTP-induced hemiparkinsonian rhesus monkeys with a minimal presence of inflammatory cells and reactive glia. [Cell Rep] Abstract | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

Nonxenogeneic Growth and Retinal Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Researchers tested the ability of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to give rise to retinal cells under nonxenogeneic conditions. hiPSCs were maintained in traditional, feeder-free, or xeno-free culture conditions, and their ability to differentiate to a retinal fate was tested. [Stem Cells Transl Med]
Abstract | Press Release

Advanced Cell Technology Receives Approval from Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) to Initiate Treatment of Third Patient Cohort in All Three Clinical Trials
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. announced that the independent DSMB overseeing the Company’s three ongoing stem cell clinical trials in the United States and Europe has authorized the Company to move forward with enrolling and treating the patients in the next cohort of each of the trials. Per each trial’s protocol, the first patient of “cohort 3” will be injected with 150,000 human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial cells. [Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.] Press Release

Launch of the Chinese-German Center for Bio-Inspired Materials at the Mainz University Medical Center
A German research team led by Professor Dr. Werner E. G. Müller of the Institute of Physiological Chemistry at the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences have launched a Chinese-German Joint Center for Bio-Inspired Materials. Here, the researchers will be able to work closely together on projects in the field of regenerative medicine. [Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz] Press Release

Unpaid Dues Delay Spanish Participation in European Science
The European Science Foundation (ESF) has temporarily shut off support for Spanish researchers because Spain’s member organizations failed to pay their membership fees for the foundation. The move, which an ESF spokesperson says should be temporary, may hobble conferences and workshops seeking ESF funding. [European Science Foundation, Europe] Press Release

HHMI Gives $22 Million to National Teaching Training Network
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is giving $22.5 million to expand a network of universities that have adopted the same approach to training U.S. math and science teachers. The award is going to the Texas-based National Math and Science Initiative. [National Math and Science Initiative, United States]
Press Release

Senior Postdoctoral Position (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Biology)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Stem Cell (Yale University, School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position (University of Rochester Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Research (University of Washington)

Lecturer or Reader – Associate Professor (University of Reading)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Pluripotent Stem Cells (Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa)

Transgenic Technologist (ETH Zurich)

Postdoctoral or Staff Scientist (The Parkinson’s Institute and Clinical Center)

Research Scientist (Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)


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