Muscle Cell News Volume 1.02 | Mar 21 2016

Multicolor Mapping of the Cardiomyocyte Proliferation Dynamics that Construct the Atrium
To understand the structural divergence of the cardiac chambers, researchers determined the contributions of individual embryonic cardiomyocytes to the atrium in zebrafish by multicolor fate-mapping, and they compared their analysis to the established proliferation dynamics of ventricular cardiomyocytes. [Development] Abstract

Selenium Augments MicroRNA Directed Reprogramming of Fibroblasts to Cardiomyocytes via Nanog
Investigators report the identification of a specific media composition, reprogramming media (RM), which augmented the effect of a combination of microRNAs by 5–15-fold depending upon the cardiac marker tested. RM alone was sufficient to strongly induce cardiac gene and protein expression in neonatal tail-tip as well as cardiac fibroblasts. [Sci Rep] Full Article

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

Optogenetic Skeletal Muscle-Powered Adaptive Biological Machines
As a step toward forward engineering biological machines (bio-bots) capable of nonnatural functional behaviors, scientists created a modular light-controlled skeletal muscle-powered bioactuator that can generate up to 300 µN of active tension force in response to a noninvasive optical stimulus. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA]
Abstract | Press Release | Video

L-Glutamine Improves Skeletal Muscle Cell Differentiation and Prevents Myotube Atrophy after Cytokine (TNF-α) Stress via Reduced p38 MAPK Signal Transduction
As L-glutamine can dampen the effects of inflamed environments, scientists investigated the role of L-glutamine in both differentiating C2C12 myoblasts and existing myotubes in the absence/presence of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) ± L-glutamine. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Cell-Instructive Graphene-Containing Nanocomposites Induce Multinucleated Myotube Formation
Investigators hypothesized that engineering biophysical features such as nano/micro-fibrous structure and conductive properties into a single biomaterial scaffold will instruct myoblasts to differentiate into multinucleated myotubes even in the absence of differentiation media. [Ann Biomed Eng] Abstract

Chromatin-Wide and Transcriptome Profiling Integration Uncovers p38α MAPK as a Global Regulator of Skeletal Muscle Differentiation
To investigate the global gene transcription program regulated by p38α during satellite cell differentiation, and to specifically address whether this regulation occurs through direct action of p38α on gene promoters, researchers performed a combination of microarray gene expression and genome-wide binding analyses. [Skelet Muscle] Abstract

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Equol Increases Cerebral Blood Flow in Rats via Activation of Large-Conductance Ca²⁺-Activated K⁺ Channels in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
Outward K⁺ current in smooth muscle cells of cerebral basilar artery, large-conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ (BK) channel current in BK-HEK 293 cells stably expressing both human α (hSlo)- and β1-subunits, and hSlo channel current in hSlo-HEK 293 cells expressing only the α-subunit of BK channels were recorded with whole cell patch-clamp technique. [Pharmacol Res] Abstract

Unraveling the Role of Mechanical Stimulation on Smooth Muscle Cells: A Comparative Study between 2D and 3D Models
Researchers investigated and compared the response of vascular smooth muscle cells cultured in different culture environments in combination with mechanical stimulation for two and five days. [Biotechnol Bioeng] Abstract

Impact of Elastin Incorporation into Electrochemically Aligned Collagen Fibers on Mechanical Properties and Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotype
Based on the principles of isoelectric focusing, two different types of elastin were incorporated into highly oriented electrochemically aligned collagen (ELAC) fibers and the effect of elastin incorporation on the mechanical properties of the ELAC fibers and smooth muscle cell phenotype was investigated. [Biomed Mater] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the muscle cell research field.

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CIRM Grant to Fund Proposed Stem Cell Trials for ALS
The Independent Citizens Oversight Committee of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) approved a $6.3 million grant to a research team from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and University of California, Davis to pursue a novel human embryonic stem cell-based therapy to rescue and restore neurons devastated by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS. [University of California, San Diego] Press Release

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the muscle cell community.

NEW Research Assistant – Skeletal Muscle Cell Biology (Nestlé)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Biomedical Engineering (University of Arkansas)

Postdoctoral Positions – Tissue Repair/Inflammation (Institut Pasteur)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Cell Biology and Regenerative Therapies in Cardiovascular Diseases (Universitätsmedizin Goettingen)

Postdoctoral Positions – Human Stem Cells and Heart Regenerative Medicine (University of Pittsburgh)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease (AstraZeneca)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Ion Channel Signaling and Metabolism (University of Iowa)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neurology Research in Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

PhD Studentship – Functional Genomics of Muscle, Nerve and Brain Disorders (Leids University Medical Center)

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