ESC & iPSC News Volume 9.41 | Oct 22 2014

A Nontranscriptional Role for Oct4 in the Regulation of Mitotic Entry
Researchers inquired how ES cells avoid the potentially deleterious consequences of premature mitotic entry. They found that the pluripotency transcription factor octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4) plays an unappreciated role in the ES cell cycle by forming a complex with cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk)1 and inhibiting Cdk1 activation. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

A Thyroid Hormone Receptor/KLF9 Axis in Human Hepatocytes and Pluripotent Stem Cells
The authors show that triiodothyronine also works through thyroid hormone receptors (TR) to induce Kruppel-like factor 9 (KLF9) in HepG2 liver cells, mouse liver and mouse and human primary hepatocytes and sought to understand TR/KLF9 network function in the hepatocyte lineage and stem cells. [Stem Cells] Abstract

The Combination of Tet1 with Oct4 Generates High-Quality Mouse Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)
Scientists provide evidence that Tet1 can replace multiple transcription factors during somatic cell reprogramming and can generate high-quality mouse induced pluripotent stem cells with Oct4. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Erythroid Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Is Independent of Donor Cell Type of Origin
To investigate the influence of an epigenetic memory on the ex vivo expansion of induced pluripotent stem cells into erythroid cells, scientists compared induced pluripotent stem cells from human neural stem cells and human cord blood-derived CD34⁺ hematopoietic stem cells and evaluated their potential for differentiation into hematopoietic progenitor and mature red blood cells. [Haematologica] Abstract | Full Article

Proteomics of Huntington’s Disease Affected Human Embryonic Stem Cells Reveals an Evolving Pathology Involving Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Metabolic Disturbances
Scientists conducted a proteomics study combined with immunocytochemical analysis of undifferentiated Huntington’s disease (HD)-affected and unaffected human embryonic stem cells. [J Proteome Res] Abstract

Histologic and Spectroscopic Study of Pluripotent Stem Cells after Implanting in Ocular Traumatic Injuries in a Murine Model
Mouse embryonic stem cells were seeded, and the obtained cells were implanted in a murine model of scleral and retinal damage at the first, second and fourth week post-trauma. At week 12 post-trauma, the eyes were enucleated for histopathologic study and spectroscopic analysis by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the attenuated total reflection configuration. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Abstract | Full Article

NRG-1b Induces Mature Ventricular Cardiac Differentiation from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Contributing to Cardiac Tissue Repair
Scientists examined whether neuregulin-1b (NRG-1b) treatment could enhance in vitro generation of mature “working-type” stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (CMs) from induced pluripotent stem cells and assessed the regenerative effects of these CMs on cardiac tissue following acute myocardial infarction.
[Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Scalable Generation of Universal Platelets from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Researchers describe a method to generate megakaryocytes (MKs) and functional platelets from human induced pluripotent stem cells in a scalable manner under serum/feeder-free conditions. The method also permits the cryopreservation of MK progenitors, enabling a rapid “surge” capacity when large numbers of platelets are needed. [Stem Cell Rep] Full Article | Press Release

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

The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) and the Alliance for Advanced Therapies (AAT) Merge to Create One Unified Voice for Next Generation Therapies in Europe and the U.S.
ARM and AAT announced the leadership of both organizations has approved a Memorandum of Understanding to merge the membership of AAT into ARM. The result of this membership merger is the creation of one, global organization operating on behalf of the advanced therapies and regenerative medicine sector (cell therapy, gene therapy and tissue engineering) in both the U.S. and Europe.
[Alliance for Regenerative Medicine] Press Release

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More than Half of 2007-2012 Research Articles Now Free to Read
More than half of all peer-reviewed research articles published from 2007 to 2012 are now free to download somewhere on the Internet. That is a step up from the situation last year, when only one year – 2011 – reached the 50% free mark. [Nature] Editorial

White House Suspends Enhanced Pathogen Research
As the US public frets about the recent transmission of Ebola to two Texas health-care workers, the US government has turned an eye on dangerous viruses that could become much more widespread if they were to escape from the lab. On 17 October, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy announced a mandatory moratorium on research aimed at making pathogens more deadly, known as gain-of-function research. [Nature] Editorial

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

Postdoctoral Scientist – Stem Cell Biology (Texas Biomedical Research Institute)

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 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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