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Viral Proteins May Regulate Human Embryonic Development
Researchers have shown that viral proteins are abundantly present in the developing human embryo and assemble into what appear to be viral particles. By following up with studies in human embryonic cells grown in vitro, they showed that these viral proteins affect gene expression in the developing embryo and may protect the cells from infection by other viruses. [Press release from Stanford University School of Medicine discussing online prepublication in Nature] Press Release
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Pioneer Transcription Factors Target Partial DNA Motifs on Nucleosomes to Initiate Reprogramming
The authors compared the nucleosome and chromatin targeting activities of Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc, which together reprogram somatic cells to pluripotency. Purified Oct4, Sox2, and Klf4 proteins can bind nucleosomes in vitro, and in vivo they preferentially target silent sites enriched for nucleosomes. [Cell]
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Opposing Roles for the lncRNA Haunt and Its Genomic Locus in Regulating HOXA Gene Activation during Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation
Investigators demonstrated discrete and opposing roles for the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) transcript Haunt and its genomic locus in regulating the HOXA gene cluster during embryonic stem cell differentiation.
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Myc and SAGA Rewire an Alternative Splicing Network during Early Somatic Cell Reprogramming
Scientists performed a functional RNAi screen to identify the earliest epigenetic regulators required for reprogramming. They identified components of the SAGA histone acetyltransferase complex, in particular Gcn5, as critical regulators of reprogramming initiation. [Genes Dev] Abstract
Foxp1-Mediated Programming of Limb-Innervating Motor Neurons from Mouse and Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers demonstrated that limb-innervating lateral motor column spinal motor neurons can be efficiently generated from mouse and human embryonic stem cells through manipulation of the transcription factor Foxp1. [Nat Commun] Full Article
Functional and Mechanistic Studies of XPC DNA-Repair Complex as Transcriptional Coactivator in Embryonic Stem Cells
The authors provide novel insights into transcriptional regulation of the stem cell state by characterizing interactions between key transcription factors SOX2 and OCT4, and a multifunctional, stem cell coactivator—the xeroderma pigmentosum, complementation group C (XPC) DNA repair complex—to control pluripotency gene-expression networks. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract
Mitofusins Deficiency Elicits Mitochondrial Metabolic Reprogramming to Pluripotency
Researchers showed that depleting p53 and p21, which are barriers to reprogramming, yields a high reprogramming efficiency. Deletion of these factors results in a distinct mitochondrial background with low expression of oxidative phosphorylation subunits and mitochondrial fusion proteins, including mitofusin 1 and 2. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract
Defining Minimum Essential Factors to Derive Highly Pure Human Endothelial Cells from iPS/ES Cells in an Animal Substance-Free System
Investigators developed a way to differentiate human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and embryonic stem (ES) cells to highly pure endothelial cells in five days. The chemically defined system is robust, easy to perform, and free of animal substances. [Sci Rep] Full Article
Pluripotent and Metabolic Features of Two Types of Porcine iPSCs Derived from Defined Mouse and Human ES Cell Culture Conditions
Scientists found that culture conditions affected pluripotent and metabolic features of porcine pluripotent induced stem cells (iPSCs). Using defined human embryonic stem cell (hESC) and mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) culture conditions, they generated two types of porcine iPSCs, one of which was morphologically similar to hESCs, the other resembled mESCs. [PLoS One] Full Article
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