ESC & iPSC News Volume 9.07 | Feb 26 2014

Transcription Factor-Induced Lineage Programming of Noradrenaline and Motor Neurons from Embryonic Stem Cells
Scientists showed that noradrenergic neurons can be generated from pluripotent embryonic stem cells by forced expression of the homeobox transcription factor Phox2b under the signaling influence of fibroblast growth factor 8 and bone morphogenetic proteins. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Pcid2 Inactivates Developmental Genes in Human and Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells to Sustain Their Pluripotency by Modulation of EID1 Stability
Researchers demonstrated that PCI-domain containing protein 2 (Pcid2) is required for the maintenance of self-renewal both in mouse and human embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Pcid2 plays a critical role in suppression of ESC differentiation. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Tbx1 Modulates Endodermal and Mesodermal Differentiation from Mouse Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Scientists generated induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSCs) from T-box transcriptional factor (Tbx)1-/- and Tbx1+/+ fibroblasts and investigated the spontaneous differentiation potential of iPSCs by detailed lineage analysis of the iPSC-derived embryoid bodies. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Soluble Factors Secreted by Differentiating Embryonic Stem Cells Stimulate Exogenous Cell Proliferation and Migration
The expression of several growth factors, including bone morphogenic protein-4, insulin-like growth factors and vascular endothelial growth factor-A, increased during the course of embryonic stem cell differentiation as embryoid bodies. [Stem Cells Res Ther] Abstract | Full Article

Generation of Transgene-Free Mouse Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Using an Excisable Lentiviral System
Researchers designed a polycistronic lentiviral construct containing four pluripotency genes with an EGFP selection marker. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts were reprogrammed using this viral system, rapidly resulting in large number of induced pluripotent stem cell colonies. [Exp Cell Res] Abstract

In Vivo and In Vitro Dynamics of Undifferentiated Embryonic Cell Transcription Factor 1
To facilitate the study of undifferentiated embryonic cell transcription factor 1 (UTF1), scientists report the generation and characterization of two reporter lines that enable efficient tracking, mapping, and purification of endogenous UTF1. [Stem Cell Rep] Full Article

Intrinsically Active and Pacemaker Neurons in Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neuronal Populations
By using mouse embryonic stem cells, researchers provide evidence for the existence of intrinsically active neurons in pluripotent stem cells-neuronal networks based on extracellular multielectrode array and intracellular patch-clamp recordings. [Stem Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

NPTX1 Regulates Neural Lineage Specification from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Investigators showed that NPTX1, a secreted protein, is rapidly upregulated during neural induction from human pluripotent stem cells. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Small Molecules Enable Cardiac Reprogramming of Mouse Fibroblasts with a Single Factor, Oct4
Researchers report the identification of a defined small-molecule cocktail that enables the highly efficient conversion of mouse fibroblasts into cardiac cells with only one transcription factor, Oct4, without any evidence of entrance into the pluripotent state. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

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Jackson Laboratory, UC Davis Expand Research Collaboration
The two institutions collaborate on cancer tumor transplants into mice to study how they grow and react to different kinds of treatment. They also collaborate on research among individual scientists and related to the National Institutes of Health “Knockout Mouse” to generate a public resource of specialized mouse embryonic stem cells. [The Jackson Laboratory] Press Release

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Blow to Researchers as England Delays Medical Data Sharing
A massive scheme to create an England-wide database of medical records, which has been heavily supported by many research groups, has been delayed amid concerns from patients and controversy over how they can opt out. [Nature News] Editorial

Duke Physician-Scientist to Lead U.S. Institute of Medicine
The next president of the U.S. National Academies’ Institute of Medicine will be Victor Dzau, a physician-scientist who is now chancellor of health affairs at Duke University. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

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Postdoctoral Position – Cardiovascular Electrophysiology Research Involving Human ESC or iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology (McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Cell-Cell Interactions in Mammalian Development (University of California, San Francisco)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Initiative (European Bioinformatics Institute)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Signaling and Epigenetics (Fondazione Istituto Nazionale Genetica Molecolare)

Postdoctoral Position – Systems Biology of Cellular Reprogramming (University of California, San Diego)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cells and Epigenetics (Mount-Sinai)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Morphogenetic Signaling Pathways in Development and Disease (University of Rochester Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Epigenetic Regulation of Heart Formation Using Human ES & iPS Cells (University of Pittsburgh)

Research Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – PSC Biology and Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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