m6A RNA Modification Controls Cell Fate Transition in Mammalian Embryonic Stem Cells Researchers reveal the evolutionary conservation and function of N6-methyl-adenosine (m6A) by mapping the m6A methylome in mouse and human embryonic stem cells. Thousands of messenger and long noncoding RNAs show conserved m6A modification, including transcripts encoding core pluripotency transcription factors. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract | Press Release miR-23A, miR-24 and miR-27A Protect Differentiating ESCs from BMP4-Induced Apoptosis Through a systematic analysis of miRNAs in embryonic stem cells (ESCs), researchers establish that BMP4 signaling regulates miR-23a, 27a and 24-2, through the recruitment of phospho-Smads at the promoter of the gene encoding this miRNA cluster. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract Reprogramming of Human Pancreatic Exocrine Cells to β-Like Cells Scientists evaluated whether exocrine cells from adult human pancreas can similarly respond to proendocrine stimuli. Exocrine cells from adult human pancreas were transduced directly with lentiviruses expressing activated mitogen-activated protein kinase and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and cultured as monolayers or as 3D structures. [Cell Death Differ] Full Article Enhancing Mammary Differentiation by Overcoming Lineage-Specific Epigenetic Modification and Signature Gene Expression of Fibroblast-Derived iPSCs Investigators show that the induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) differentiation process is accompanied by profound gene expression and epigenetic modifications that reflect cells’ origins. Under typical conditions for mammary differentiation, iPSCs reprogrammed from tail-tip fibroblasts activated a fibroblast-specific signature that was not compatible with mammary differentiation. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article The Homeobox Gene DLX4 Promotes Generation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Scientists show that the reprogramming potential of human dental pulp cells (DPCs) obtained from immature teeth is much higher than those of mature teeth DPCs. Furthermore, immature teeth DPCs can be reprogrammed by OCT3/4 and SOX2, conversely these two factors are insufficient to convert mature teeth DPCs to pluripotent states. [Sci Rep] Full Article Combining TGF-β Signal Inhibition and Connexin43 Silencing for iPSC Induction from Mouse Cardiomyocytes Researchers report reprogramming of siPSCs (gene silencing-induced pluripotent stem cells) from mouse neonatal cardiomyocytes by combining TGF-β signal inhibition and connexin43 silencing, and show that siPSCs show pluripotency in vitro and in vivo. [Sci Rep] Full Article CRISPR Reveals a Distal Super-Enhancer Required for Sox2 Expression in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Investigators analyzed epigenomic data within the 1.5Mb gene-desert regions around the Sox2 gene and identified a 13kb-long super-enhancer located 100kb downstream of Sox2 in mouse embryonic stem cells. [PLoS One] Full Article TALEN/CRISPR-Mediated eGFP Knock-In Add-On at the OCT4 Locus Does Not Impact Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells towards Endoderm Investigators outline two strategies using transcription activator like effector nucleases (TALENs) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein to create OCT4-eGFP knock-in add-on human embryonic stem cell lines. [PLoS One] Full Article |