ESC & iPSC News Volume 9.10 | Mar 19 2014

Multifaceted Regulation of Somatic Cell Reprogramming by mRNA Translational Control
Scientists showed that eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding proteins, which are translational repressors, have a multifaceted effect on the reprogramming of mouse embryonic fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Functional Comparison of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Mesenchymal Cells and Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells from the Same Donor
Scientists derived mesenchymal stem cell-like cells (iMPCs) using four different methodologies from a newly established induced pluripotent stem cell line reprogrammed from human bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), and compared the iMPCs directly to the originating parental BMSCs. [Stem Cell Dev] Abstract

Comparative Analysis of Mouse Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Mesenchymal Stem Cells during Osteogenic Differentiation In Vitro
Researchers provide a direct in vitro comparison of the osteogenic differentiation process in mesenchymal stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells from adult C57BL/6J mice. [Stem Cell Dev] Abstract

A Stem-Cell Based Bioassay to Critically Assess the Pathology of Dysfunctional Neuromuscular Junctions
Scientists describe the generation and analysis of mature neuromuscular junctions formed between embryonic stem cell-derived motor neurons and primary myotubes. [PLoS One] Full Article

Established Monolayer Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Generates Heterogeneous, Neocortical-Like Neurons Stalled at a Stage Equivalent to Mid-Corticogenesis
Researchers investigated whether mouse embryonic stem cells undergoing largely undirected neocortical differentiation in monolayer culture recapitulate progressive developmental programs of in vivo progenitor and post-mitotic differentiation, and whether they develop into specific neocortical subtypes. [J Comp Neurol] Abstract

Ultrastructural Characteristics of Three Undifferentiated Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Lines and Their Differentiated Three-Dimensional Derivatives: A Comparative Study
The fine structures of mouse embryonic stem cells grown as colonies and differentiated in three-dimensional culture as embryoid bodies were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. [Cell Reprogram] Abstract

Ginsenosides May Enhance the Functionality of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes In Vitro
Investigators evaluated the effects of red ginseng extract, ginsenoside-Rb1 (gRb1, panaxadiol), and ginsenoside-Re (gRe, panaxatriol) on the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells and the functionality of derived cardiomyocytes. [Reprod Sci] Abstract

Partial Somatic to Stem Cell Transformations Induced by Cell-Permeable Reprogramming Factors
The production of pluripotent stem cells for therapeutic applications will require practical methods to achieve tight temporal and quantitative control of reprogramming factor (RF) expression, while avoiding the mutagenic potential of gene transfer. Toward this end, investigators developed cell-permeable RF proteins incorporating newly developed macromolecule transduction domains. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the ESC & iPSC research field.

UC Merced Earns Grant from California’s Stem Cell Push
UC Merced Professor Kara McCloskey was recently awarded a $500,000 grant to continue tackling significant, unresolved issues in human stem cell biology, as part of an effort to enhance stem-cell research in California. [UC Merced] Press Release

From our sponsor: Pluripotent cell isolation for regenerative medicine. Request a free wallchart from Nature.

Alliance for Regenerative Medicine Announces Introduction of Regenerative Medicine Promotion Act of 2014 in the Senate
The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine announced the introduction of the Regenerative Medicine Promotion Act of 2014 in the U.S. Senate and expressed appreciation for the efforts of its lead sponsors, Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Mark Kirk (R-IL). [Alliance for Regenerative Medicine] Press Release

US Senate Approves France Córdova to Lead NSF
The US National Science Foundation (NSF) has a new leader. The US Senate voted to confirm astrophysicist France Córdova to lead the agency, roughly a year after former director Subra Suresh resigned mid-term. [Nature News] Editorial

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

Postdoctoral Position – TGFβ-Signaling Pathway in Embryonic Stem Cells (Tsinghua University)

Stem Cell Research Technician (Van Andel Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cells and Epigenetics (Mount Sinai School of Medicine)

Director of GMP/GLP Quality Operations (University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Human Stem Cell Biology and Hematopoiesis (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Positions – Stem Cells (CREI Stem Cells, SkolTech)

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)

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

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

Research Technologist – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 50,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.