Volume 10.46 | Dec 9 - ESC & iPSC News

ESC & iPSC News 10.46 December 9, 2015

TOP STORY

Dynamic Reorganization of Extremely Long-Range Promoter-Promoter Interactions between Two States of Pluripotency
The authors detected extremely long-range intra- and inter-chromosomal interactions between a small subset of H3K27me3 marked bivalent promoters involving the Hox clusters in serum-grown cells. These promoter-mediated interactions were not present in 2i ground-state pluripotent mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) but appeared upon their further development into primed-like serum mESCs. [Cell Stem Cell]
Abstract | Graphical Abstract

PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Blockade of Senescence-Associated MicroRNA-195 in Aged Skeletal Muscle Cells Facilitates Reprogramming to Produce Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Investigators hypothesized that a blockade of microRNA (miR)-195 expression could improve reprogramming efficiency in old skeletal myoblasts (SkMs). Induced pluripotent stem cells from old SkMs transduced with anti-miR-195 successfully formed embryoid bodies that spontaneously differentiated into three germ layers, indicating that deletion of miR-195 does not affect pluripotency in transformed SkMs. [Aging Cell] Abstract

Dynamically Reorganized Chromatin Is the Key for the Reprogramming of Somatic Cells to Pluripotent Cells
Scientists determined the genome-wide nucleosome coverage and histone methylation occupancy in mouse embryonic fibroblasts, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and pre-iPSCs. [Sci Rep] Full Article

GLUT3 and PKM2 Regulate OCT4 Expression and Support the Hypoxic Culture of Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers investigated the regulation of glucose metabolism in human embryonic stem cells and whether this might impact OCT4 expression. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Size-Dependent Effects of Layered Double Hydroxide Nanoparticles on Cellular Functions of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
Scientists demonstrated the size-dependent effects of layered double hydroxide nanoparticles on controlling fate and cellular functions of mouse embryonic stem cells. [Nanomedicine (Lond)] Abstract

Genome-Wide Studies Reveal That H3K4me3 Modification in Bivalent Genes Is Dynamically Regulated during the Pluripotent Cell Cycle and Stabilized upon Differentiation
By mapping genomic enrichment of H3K4me3/H3K27me3 in pure populations of human embryonic stem cells in G2, mitotic, and G1 phases of the cell cycle, researchers found striking variations in the levels of H3K4me3 through the G2-M-G1 transition. [Mol Cell Biol] Abstract

G1 Checkpoint Is Compromised in Mouse ESCs Due to Functional Uncoupling of p53-p21Waf1 Signaling
A lack of functional p21/Waf1 was indispensable for maintaining self-renewal and pluripotency of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). [Cell Cycle] Abstract

Histone Modification Profiling Reveals Differential Signatures Associated with Human Embryonic Stem Cell Self-Renewal and Differentiation
Scientists traced developmental stages using epigenome changes in human embryonic stem cells treated with drugs modulating either self-renewal or differentiation. [Proteomics] Abstract

Manganese Superoxide Dismutase Gene Expression Is Induced by Nanog and Oct4, Essential Pluripotent Stem Cells’ Transcription Factors
The authors studied the expression profile of multiple genes involved in antioxidant defense systems in both embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. They found that the manganese superoxide dismutase gene was repressed during diverse differentiation protocols showing an expression pattern similar to the Nanog gene. [PLoS One] Full Article

A Combination of Culture Conditions and Gene Expression Analysis Can Be Used to Investigate and Predict hES Cell Differentiation Potential towards Male Gonadal Cells
The potential of three male human embryonic stem cell lines to differentiate towards male gonadal cells was explored by analyzing their gene expression profiles. [PLoS One] Full Article

Free Wallchart: Small Molecules, Big Impact in PSC Research

REVIEWS

Induced Pluripotency and Epigenetic Reprogramming
The authors put transcription factor-induced pluripotency into a historical context, review current methods to generate induced pluripotent stem cells, and discuss mechanistic insights that have been gained into the process of reprogramming. [Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol] Abstract

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

INDUSTRY NEWS

Welsh Government Funding Drives Expansion for Biotech Pioneer TrakCel Ltd. to Create 20 New Jobs in Cardiff
TrakCel Ltd. is expanding and creating 20 jobs in Cardiff with Welsh Government support as it launches the commercial roll-out of its sophisticated tracking system used in cell therapy and regenerative medicine clinical trials. [Welsh Government] Press Release

Funding in the Millions
Three scientists from TU Dresden have succeeded to raise starting grants of the European Research Council in 2015. [TU Dresden] Press Release

From our sponsor: Induce neural progenitor cells faster and more effectively. Watch the technical video.

POLICY NEWS

Embryo Editing to Make Babies Would Be ‘Irresponsible,’ Says DNA Summit Statement
It would currently be “irresponsible” to use new DNA editing tools to alter the genomes of human embryos, eggs, or sperm in order to produce a baby, the organizing committee of an international summit on the issue concluded in a statement. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Ireland Envisions 70% Spending Boost for Research
The Irish government released an ambitious five-year vision for stimulating innovation. Developed by several agencies, the plan calls for increasing total investment in R&D by about a third to 2.0% of gross domestic product. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

EVENTS

NEW Cell Symposia – 10 Years of iPSCs
September 25-27, 2016
Berkeley, United States

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

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Cellular Genetic Program (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute)

PhD Candidate – Embryonic Stem Cell and Molecular Research (Ghent University)

Assistant or Associate Professor – Regenerative Kidney Research (University of Montreal)

Assistant, Associate or Full Professor – Regenerative Vision Research (University of Montreal)

Team Leader/Professor/Associate Professor – Regenerative Medicine (Ji Nan University)

Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Scientist – Epigenomics and Systems Biology (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiac Regeneration (Duke University)

Postdoctoral Position – Modeling and Treatment of Human Skeletal Muscle Diseases (Duke University)

Team Leader Position – Developmental Biology (Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine)

Postdoctoral Position – Neuroscience/Stem Cell Research (University of California, Davis)

Assistant/Associate/Full Professor – Biomedical Engineering (Worcester Polytechnic Institute)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 60,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

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