ESC & iPSC News Volume 9.19 | May 21 2014

Tet Oxidizes Thymine to 5-Hydroxymethyluracil in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell DNA
Scientists synthesized isotopologs of all major oxidized pyrimidine and purine bases and performed quantitative MS to show that ten eleven translocation (Tet)-induced oxidation is not limited to 5-methylcytosine but that thymine is also a substrate that gives 5-hydroxymethyluracil in mouse embryonic stem cells. [Nat Chem Biol] Abstract | Press Release

Physiological and Ultrastructural Features of Human Induced Pluripotent and Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Skeletal Myocytes In Vitro
Investigators showed that the electrophysiological properties of human induced pluripotent stem-derived skeletal myocytes are strictly similar to those of their embryonic stem cell counterparts, and both are typical of aneural mammalian skeletal muscle. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Small Molecule Compound Induces Chromatin De-Condensation and Facilitates Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Generation
Researchers report the identification of a novel chemical, CYT296, which improves OSKM-mediated induction of induced pluripotent stem cells over tenfold and enables efficient reprogramming with only Oct4 in combination with other small molecules. [J Mol Cell Biol] Abstract

Mutation Frequency Dynamics in HPRT Locus in Culture Adapted Human Embryonic Stem Cells and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Correspond to Their Differentiated Counterparts
Scientists showed that the increase in the mutation frequency caused by the inhibition of base excision repair was similar to that caused by the human embryonic stem cell adaptation process. [Stem Cell Dev] Abstract

Genetic and Chemical Correction of Cholesterol Accumulation and Impaired Autophagy in Hepatic and Neural Cells Derived from Niemann-Pick Type C Patient-Specific iPS Cells
Researchers report the generation of isogenic pairs of Niemann-Pick type C patient-specific induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells using transcription activator-like effector nucleases. [Stem Cell Rep]
Full Article | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

Path to the Clinic: Assessment of iPSC-Based Cell Therapies In Vivo in a Nonhuman Primate Model
Scientists developed a clinically relevant nonhuman primate model to assess the tumorigenic potential and in vivo efficacy of both undifferentiated and differentiated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in autologous settings without immunosuppression. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

Stable Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein Expression after Differentiation and Transplantation of Reporter Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Generated by AAVS1 Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases
It is not clear whether targeted transgene expression at the adeno-associated virus integration site 1 (AAVS1) locus is always protected from silencing when driven by various promoters, especially after differentiation and transplantation from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Investigators described a pair of transcription activator-like effector nucleases that enable more efficient genome editing than the commercially available zinc finger nuclease at the AAVS1 site. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract

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Orbsen Therapeutics Cell Therapy Selected for Diabetic Wound Clinical Trial Led by NUI Galway and Steno Diabetes Center
Orbsen Therapeutics proprietary stromal cell therapy has been selected to be tested in a EU Framework 7 funded safety trial for the treatment of non-healing, ulcerating wounds in patients with diabetes. [Orbsen Therapeutics] Press Release

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NIH to Require Sex-Reporting in Preclinical Studies
The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) will require grant applicants to report the sex of animals and cells used in preclinical studies. The shift could help to reveal differences in the ways that diseases affect males and females. [Nature News] Editorial

No Patent for Dolly the Cloned Sheep, Court Rules, Adding to Industry Jitters
Dolly the sheep enjoyed a brief and highly publicized life as the first mammal cloned from an adult cell before succumbing to lung disease in 2003 at age 6. But an attempt to patent Dolly, and lay commercial claim to animals produced by cloning, survived much longer. But that nearly 10-year-long saga also appears to have ended last week when a U.S. federal appeals court ruled against giving a patent to Dolly’s creators. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

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Postdoctoral Fellows – Reproductive Sciences/Embryonic Development (University of Maryland)

Postdoctoral Position – Epigenetics, Stem Cell Biology and Heart Development (Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research)

Postdoctoral Position – Functional Characterization of Neurons Derived from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells (Radboud University Nijmegen)

Postdoctoral Associate – Hematopoietic Differentiation (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Basic and Translational Neuroscience/Stem Cell Research (University of California, Davis)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Biology (Yale Stem Cell Center)

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

Research Technologist – hPSC (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

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

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