ESC & iPSC News Volume 9.28 | Jul 23 2014

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    ESC & iPSC News 9.28 July 23, 2014

    ESC & iPSC News

         In this issue: Publications | Reviews | Industry News | Policy News | Events | Jobs
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    TOP STORY
    Discovery May Make It Easier to Develop Life-Saving Stem Cells
    Not unlike looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack, a team of researchers have found a gene that could be key to the development of stem cells. The gene, known as ASF1A, was not discovered by the team. However, it is at least one of the genes responsible for the mechanism of cellular reprogramming. [Press release from Michigan State University discussing online prepublication in Science] Press Release | Abstract
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    PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)
    Single-Cell Genome-Wide Bisulfite Sequencing for Assessing Epigenetic Heterogeneity
    Researchers report a single-cell bisulfite sequencing method that can be used to accurately measure DNA methylation at up to 48.4% of CpG sites. Embryonic stem cells grown in serum or in 2i medium displayed epigenetic heterogeneity, with ‘2i-like’ cells present in serum culture. [Nat Methods] Abstract | Press Release

    Role of Astroglia in Down’s Syndrome Revealed by Patient-Derived Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
    Scientists used induced pluripotent stem cells derived from Down’s syndrome (DS) patients to identify a role for astrocytes in DS pathogenesis. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release

    Embryonic Stem Cell-Specific MicroRNAs Contribute to Pluripotency by Inhibiting Regulators of Multiple Differentiation Pathways
    To elucidate the transcription regulatory networks immediately downstream of embryonic microRNAs (miRNAs) , investigators extended the motif activity response analysis approach that infers the regulatory impact of both transcription factors and miRNAs from genome-wide expression states. [Nucleic Acids Res] Full Article

    ADP-Ribosyltransferases Parp1 and Parp7 Safeguard Pluripotency of ES Cells
    Researchers find that the ADP-ribosyltransferases Parp1 and Parp7 play a critical role in safeguarding this state by occupying key pluripotency genes, notably Nanog, Pou5f1, Sox2, Stella, Tet1 and Zfp42, thereby protecting them from progressive epigenetic repression. [Nucleic Acids Res] Full Article

    Spider Silk for Xeno-Free Long-Term Self-Renewal and Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
    Scientists mimic spider silk for the design of chemically defined two-dimensional (2D) and 3D matrices for cell culture. The silk matrices do not only allow xeno-free long-term expansion of human pluripotent stem cells but also differentiation in both 2D and 3D. [Biomaterials] Abstract

    Functional and Molecular Defects of hiPSC-Derived Neurons from Patients with ATM Deficiency
    To investigate the mechanisms of neurodegeneration, researchers reprogrammed fibroblasts from ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-null ataxia-telangiectasia patients and normal controls to pluripotency (human-induced pluripotent stem cells [hiPSCs]), and derived from these neural precursor cells able to terminally differentiate into post-mitotic neurons positive to >90% for β-tubulin III+/microtubule-associated protein 2+. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

    Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Familial Alzheimer’s Disease Patients Differentiate into Mature Neurons with Amyloidogenic Properties
    Scientists describe the generation of virus-free human induced pluripotent stem cells derived from fibroblasts of patients harboring the familial Alzheimer’s disease presenilin 1 mutation A246E and fibroblasts from healthy age-matched controls using non-integrating episomal vectors. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

    Directed Differentiation of Patient-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Identifies the Transcriptional Repression and Epigenetic Modification of NKX2-5, HAND1, and NOTCH1 in Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
    Scientists investigated the altered control of transcriptional and epigenetic programs that may affect the development of hypoplastic left heart syndrome by using disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

    Removal of Reprogramming Transgenes Improves the Tissue Reconstitution Potential of Keratinocytes Generated from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
    The authors generated human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) lines from normal human dermal fibroblasts with piggyBac transposon bearing reprogramming transgenes followed by removal of the transposon by the transposase. Under this condition, they compared the phenotypes of transgene-residual and -free hiPSCs of the same genetic background. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract

    Genome-Wide Functional Analysis Reveals Factors Needed at the Transition Steps of Induced Reprogramming
    Investigators used a genome-wide RNAi screen and performed integrated transcriptome analysis to identify key genes and cellular events required at the transition steps in reprogramming [Cell Rep]
    Full Article | Graphical Abstract

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    REVIEWS
    Organogenesis in a Dish: Modeling Development and Disease Using Organoid Technologies
    Because organoids can be grown from human stem cells and from patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells, they have the potential to model human development and disease. Furthermore, they have potential for drug testing and even future organ replacement strategies. The authors summarize this rapidly evolving field and outline the potential of organoid technology for future biomedical research. [Science] Abstract

    Advances in Understanding the Cell Types and Approaches Used for Generating Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
    The authors review recent advances in induced pluripotent stem (iPS) technology by highlighting tissue origin and generation of iPS cells (iPSCs). The obstacles that need to be overcome for clinical applications of iPSCs are also discussed. [J Hematol Oncol] Abstract | Full Article

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

     
    INDUSTRY NEWS
    NYSCF Partners with Beyond Batten Disease Foundation to Fight Juvenile Batten Disease
    The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) and Beyond Batten Disease Foundation have partnered to develop stem cell resources to investigate and explore new treatments and ultimately find a cure for juvenile Batten disease, a fatal illness affecting children. NYSCF scientists will create induced pluripotent stem cell lines from skin samples of young people affected by juvenile Batten disease as well as unaffected family members. [The New York Stem Cell Foundation (EurekAlert!)] Press Release

    Sernova Agrees on Terms to Gain Access to Proprietary Stem Cell Technology for the Treatment of Diabetes
    Sernova Corp. announced it has agreed on key terms with the University Health Network of Toronto (UHN) to gain access to worldwide, exclusive rights to certain patent-pending technologies developed by distinguished UHN researchers for the advancement of insulin-producing stem cells for the treatment of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. [Sernova Corp.] Press Release

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    POLICY NEWS
    Lawsuit Claims Stem Cells Unsafe
    StemCells, Inc. is being sued by a whistleblower who claims that the company did not follow proper protocol in preparing treatments. Rob Williams, who was once a senior manager at the firm, alleges that the company fired him after he brought the problems to light. [The Scientist] Editorial

    Cora Marrett Steps Down as NSF Deputy Director
    Cora Marrett has been a jack-of-all-trades administrator at the National Science Foundation (NSF) for a good part of the past two decades, including two stints as acting director of the $7 billion agency. The 72-year-old sociologist announced she will retire next month, before the end of her term as NSF’s deputy director. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

     
    EVENTS
    NEW 2014 Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society-Asia Pacific Meeting (TERMIS-AP 2014)
    September 24-27, 2014
    Daegu, Korea

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

     
    JOB OPPORTUNITIES
    NEW Technical Account Manager (GlobalStem)

    Stem Cell Research Assistant – iPSC Biology and Genome Editing (Stem Cell Theranostics)

    Stem Cell Research Scientist – iPSC Reprogramming and Disease Modeling (Stem Cell Theranostics)

    Product Marketing Manager – Bio-Science (CESCA Therapeutics)

    Postdoctoral Fellow – Proteomic Analysis of the Differentiation of Human ESCs or iPSCs (Cornell University)

    Postdoctoral Fellow/PhD – Epigenetics Using Knockout Mouse Models (University of Marburg)

    Postdoctoral Fellow – Genome Editing in Human Embryonic Stem Cells to Study Hereditary Cancer-Associated Mutations (UConn Health Center)

    Scientist – Stem Cell Bioengineering and Automation (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency)

    Scientist – Cell Banking Program (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency)

    Postdoctoral Researcher – Generation of Myocardium In Situ (Van Andel Research Institute)

    Postdoctoral Position – Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Human Hematopoietic Specification Using Human Embryonic Stem Cells (Washington University School of Medicine)

    Postdoctoral Positions – Stem Cell Biology (State University of New York)

    Postdoctoral Position – Studying RNA and Heart Biology Using Human Stem Cells (University of Pittsburgh)

    Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology Endoderm Lineages (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

    Scientist – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

    Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Media Development, High Throughput Screening (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

    Scientist – Cell Culture Support Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

    Scientist – Immunology/Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

    Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)


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