ESC & iPSC News Volume 9.48 | Dec 10 2014

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    ESC & iPSC News 9.48 December 10, 2014

    ESC & iPSC News

         In this issue: Publications | Reviews | Industry News | Policy News | Events | Jobs
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    TOP STORY
    New Single-Cell Analysis Reveals Complex Variations in Stem Cells
    By using powerful new single-cell genetic profiling techniques, scientists have uncovered far more variation in pluripotent stem cells than was previously appreciated. The findings bring researchers closer to a day when many different kinds of stem cells could be leveraged for disease therapy and regenerative treatments. [Press release from the Wyss Institute discussing online prepublication in the Nature] Press Release | Abstract
    Free Wallchart: Small Molecules, Big Impact in PSC Research

     
    PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)
    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

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    REVIEWS
    Nephron Reconstitution from Pluripotent Stem Cells
    The generation of nephron components from human-induced pluripotent stem cells will be useful for future application in regenerative therapy and modeling of congenital kidney diseases in vitro. The authors discuss the possibility of de novo organogenesis of a functional kidney from pluripotent stem cells and the future direction toward clinical applications. [Kidney Int] Abstract

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

     
    INDUSTRY NEWS
    Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc. and the International Retinal Research Foundation Announce Catalyst Awards for AMD Stem Cell Research
    Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc. (RPB) is partnering with the International Retinal Research Foundation (IRRF) to advance knowledge about age-related macular degeneration through novel stem cell research. RPB/IRRF & RPB Sybil B. Harrington Catalyst Awards for Stem Cell Research Approaches for Age-Related Macular Degeneration have been given to three leading researchers. Each will receive $250,000 over four years. [Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc.] Press Release

    NYSCF and the CMTA Enter Collaboration to Advance Neuropathies Research
    The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Research Institute announced a collaboration with the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association (CMTA). The immediate aim of the collaboration is to develop a bank of induced pluripotent stem cell lines for a variety of neuropathy disorders of known genetic causation and to eventually develop personalized drug therapies. [New York Stem Cell Foundation] Press Release

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    POLICY NEWS
    Renewal of R&D Tax Credit Seems Like Sure Bet after U.S. House Vote
    Better than nothing—but barely. That is how many lawmakers and business groups are reacting to a vote last night by the U.S. House of Representatives to retroactively revive a tax credit that allows companies to write off certain research expenses. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

    Microsoft Billionaire Takes on Cell Biology
    Eleven years after he established an institute dedicated to mapping the brain, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen is announcing a sequel: the Allen Institute for Cell Science. Just like its predecessor, the new institute will be seeded with $100 million from Allen himself; will embrace big-team science, bringing together cell biologists, mathematicians, computational biologists, and other specialists; and will seek to decipher a world whose complexity is still largely uncharted. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

     
    EVENTS
    NEW Stem Cells in Drug Discovery
    June 2-3, 2015
    Cambridge, United Kingdom

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

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

    Postdoctoral Fellow and Technician – Regenerative Medicine Using iPSC, Embryonic and Adult Stem Cells (University of Illinois at Chicago)

    Postdoctoral Position – Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology and Cancer Research (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center)

    Postdoctoral Research Associate – Stem Cell Engineering (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)

    Postdoctoral Fellow – In Vitro Modeling of Human Skeletal Muscle Disease (Duke University)

    Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell and RNA Biology (Lund University)

    Postdoctoral Position – Muscle Cell Therapy (I-Stem)

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

    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.)


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