ESC & iPSC News Volume 8.38 | Sep 25 2013

The Non-Coding snRNA 7SK Controls Transcriptional Termination, Poising and Bidirectionality in Embryonic Stem Cells
The authors identified the non-coding snRNA 7SK as a multifaceted regulator of transcription in embryonic stem cells. They found that 7SK represses a specific cohort of transcriptionally poised genes with bivalent or activating chromatin marks in these cells, suggesting a novel poising mechanism independent of Polycomb activity. [Genome Biol] Abstract | Full Article

MBNL1 and RBFOX2 Cooperate to Establish a Splicing Program Involved in Pluripotent Stem Cell Differentiation
The authors used high-throughput RT-PCR technology to take a snapshot of splicing changes in the full spectrum of high- and low-expressed genes during induction of fibroblasts, from several donors, into induced pluripotent stem cells and their subsequent redifferentiation. They uncovered a program of concerted alternative splicing changes involved in late mesoderm differentiation and controlled by key splicing regulators MBNL1 and RBFOX2. [Nat Commun] Abstract

Efficient Derivation of Cortical Glutamatergic Neurons from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells: A Model System to Study Neurotoxicity in Alzheimer’s Disease
Investigators implemented an efficient paradigm to convert human pluripotent stem cells into enriched populations of cortical glutamatergic neurons emerging from dorsal forebrain neural progenitors, aided by modulating Sonic hedgehog signaling. [Neurobiol Dis] Abstract

Genomic and Proteomic Analyses of Prdm5 Reveal Interactions with Insulator Binding Proteins in Embryonic Stem Cells
The authors found that Prdm5 is highly expressed in mouse embryonic stem cells and exploit this cellular system to characterize molecular functions of Prdm5. By combining proteomics and next generation sequencing technologies they identified Prdm5 interaction partners and genomic occupancy. [Mol Cell Biol] Abstract

Niemann-Pick Type C1 Patient-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Display Disease Specific Hallmarks
Researchers reprogrammed human fibroblasts from a Niemann-Pick type C1 disease patient and a healthy control by retroviral transduction with Oct4, Klf4, Sox2 and c-Myc. The obtained human induced pluripotent stem cells were characterized by immunocytochemical analyses. [Orphanet J Rare Dis] Full Article

Effects of Tet1 Knock-Down on Gene Expression and DNA Methylation in Porcine Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
To investigate the role of Tet1 in the pluripotency and differentiation of porcine induced pluripotent stem cells (piPSCs), piPSCs were obtained from porcine embryonic fibroblasts by overexpression of Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc. Four small interfering RNAs targeting to Tet1 were used to transiently knock-down the expression of Tet1 in piPSCs. [Reproduction] Abstract

Requirement of B-Raf, C-Raf, and A-Raf for the Growth and Survival of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers found that mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells express three forms of Raf kinases, A-Raf, B-Raf, and C-Raf. Knocking-down each single Raf member failed to affect the sustained extracellular signal-regulated kinases activity, neither did A-Raf and B-Raf double knockdown or B-Raf and C-Raf double knockdown change it in ES cells. [Exp Cell Res] Abstract

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STEMSOFT Announces Release of New Cord Banking Software Solution
STEMSOFT™ Software Inc. (STEMSOFT) announced the release of a new cord banking software solution, STEMSOFT CORD. This new system is like no other cord banking software on the market and offers an intuitive, easy to follow user interface paired with the functionality demanded by this unique workflow. [STEMSOFT Software, Inc.] Press Release

Vote Seals Fate of Russian Academy of Sciences
Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, approved controversial reforms to the Russian Academy of Sciences. More than 330 members of the Duma voted in favor of the law, with only 107 against, in a move critics say will deprive the 289-year-old body of its independence and halt attempts to revitalize Russia’s struggling science system. [State Duma, Russia] Press Release

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NEW Research Scientist – Stem Cell Research (Approach People Recruitment)

Postdoctoral Position – Heart Disease and Human ES/iPS Cells (University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell and Neurodegenerative Diseases (University of Connecticut Health Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Leukemia Biology (Northwestern University)

Technician Position – Stem Cells and Epigenetics (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Self-Renewal of Pluripotent Stem Cells (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Research Technologist – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Mesenchymal Cell Research (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Cell Culture Media & Matrices (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate/Scientist – Antibodies Group (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Quality Control Analyst – Media (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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