ESC & iPSC News Volume 9.40 | Oct 15 2014

Novel Cell Lines Isolated from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Exhibiting De Novo Methylation of the E-Cadherin Promoter
The authors examined whether mouse embryonic stem cells can epigenetically regulate E-cadherin to enter a primed-like state in response to low cell seeding density. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Regulation of Mitochondrial Function and Cellular Energy Metabolism by Protein Kinase C-λ/ι: A Novel Mode of Balancing Pluripotency
Using murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs) as a model system, investigators demonstrate that atypical protein kinase C isoform, PKC lambda/iota (PKCλ/ι), is a key regulator of mitochondrial function in ESCs. [Stem Cells] Abstract

SCL/TAL1-Mediated Transcriptional Network Enhances Megakaryocytic Specification of Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Given that SCL participates in megakaryocytic commitment, researchers hypothesized that it may potentiate megakaryopoiesis from human embryonic stem cells. They show that ectopic SCL expression enhanced the emergence of megakaryocytic precursors, mature megakaryocytes and platelets in vitro. [Mol Ther] Abstract

6-O-Sulfated Chitosan Promoting the Neural Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
As a type of sulfated glycosaminoglycan analog, sulfated chitosan with well-defined sulfation sites and a controlled degree of sulfation were prepared through simple procedures and the influence of sulfated glycosaminoglycan on neural differentiation of embryonic stem cells was investigated. [ACS Appl Mater Interfaces] Abstract

Competence of In Vitro Cultured Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells for Myogenic Differentiation and Fusion with Myoblasts
Investigators examined whether mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells are able to undergo myogenic differentiation and fusion in response to signals released by differentiating myoblasts. Using ES cells expressing the histone 2B-green fluorescent fusion protein, they were able to detect hybrid myotubes formed by ES cells and differentiating myoblasts. [Stem Cells Dev] Full Article

Potent Tumor Tropism of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neural Stem Cells in the Mouse Intracerebral Glioma Model
Researchers tested tumor tropic activity of mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and neural stem cells derived from the iPSC (iPS-NSCs) using in vitro Matrigel invasion chamber assay and in vivo mouse intracranial tumor model. Both iPSC and iPS-NSC had a similar potent in vitro tropism for glioma conditioned media.
[Int J Oncol] Abstract

Combinatorial Modulation of Signaling Pathways Reveals Cell-Type-Specific Requirements for Highly Efficient and Synchronous iPSC Reprogramming
To address why some cell types reprogram more readily than others, researchers studied the effect of combined modulation of cellular signaling pathways. [Stem Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

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Marius Wernig Receives New York Stem Cell Foundation’s Robertson Stem Cell Prize
The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) announced that Marius Wernig, PhD, Associate Professor in the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and the Department of Pathology at Stanford University School of Medicine, is the 2014 recipient of the NYSCF – Robertson Stem Cell Prize, which has been awarded since 2011 for extraordinary achievements in translational stem cell research by a young scientist. [New York Stem Cell Foundation] Press Release

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Stem Cells for Diabetes: The Danger of the Word ‘Cure’
There has been considerable discussion about the whether the media hyped the recent Harvard Diabetes stem cell paper. This Harvard publication reported production of insulin-secreting cells from human embryonic stem cells. Newspapers around the world widely exaggerated the potential impact of this paper. They often used the word “cure”. [Knoepfler Lab Blog] Editorial

Stem-Cell Fraud Makes for Box Office Success
A movie based on the Woo Suk Hwang cloning scandal drew more than 100,000 viewers on its opening day (2 October) and has been topping box office sales in South Korea since then. With some of the country’s biggest stars, it has made a blockbuster out of a dismal episode in South Korean stem-cell research – and revealed the enduring tension surrounding it. [Nature] Editorial

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Postdoctoral Fellow – Pluripotent Stem Cell Laboratory (University of California – San Diego)

PhD Position – DNA Demethylation, Reprogramming & Differentiation (Institute of Molecular Biology)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Stem Cells & Epigenetics (National Institutes of Health)

Postdoctoral Positions – Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine (Texas Biomedical Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Position – Transplantation Aspects of Hepatocytes Derived from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells (INSERM UMR 1064)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiac Differentiation of Pluripotent Stem Cells (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiac Animal Surgery (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Positions – Hematopoietic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (Indiana University School of Medicine)

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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