Virus-mediated expression of defined transcription factor (TF) genes can effectively induce cellular reprogramming. However, sustained expression of the TFs often hinders pluripotent stem cell (PSC) differentiation into specific cell types, as each TF exerts its effect on PSCs for a defined period of time during differentiation. Here, we applied a bacterial type III secretion system (T3SS)-based protein delivery tool to directly translocate TFs in the form of protein into human PSCs. This transient protein delivery technique showed high delivery efficiency for hPSCs, and it avoids potential genetic alterations caused by the introduction of transgenes. In an established cardiomyocyte de novo differentiation procedure, five transcriptional factors, namely GATA4, MEF2C, TBX5, ESRRG and MESP1 (abbreviated as GMTEM), were translocated at various time points. By detecting the expression of cardiac marker genes (Nkx2.5 and cTnT), we found that GMTEM proteins delivered on mesoderm stage of the cardiomyocytes lineage differentiation significantly enhanced both the human ESC and iPSC differentiation into cardiomyocytes, while earlier or later delivery diminished the enhancing effect. Furthermore, all of the five factors were required to enhance the cardiac differentiation. This work provides a virus-free strategy of transient transcription factors delivery for directing human stem cell fate without jeopardizing genome integrity, thus safe for biomedical applications.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5868831 | PMC |
| http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0194895 | PLOS |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
DDX18 coordinates nucleolus phase separation and nuclear organization to control the pluripotency of human embryonic stem cells.
Nat Commun
December 2024
Department of Medicine, Columbia Center for Human Development and Stem Cell Therapies, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Pluripotent stem cells possess a unique nuclear architecture characterized by a larger nucleus and more open chromatin, which underpins their ability to self-renew and differentiate. Here, we show that the nucleolus-specific RNA helicase DDX18 is essential for maintaining the pluripotency of human embryonic stem cells. Using techniques such as Hi-C, DNA/RNA-FISH, and biomolecular condensate analysis, we demonstrate that DDX18 regulates nucleolus phase separation and nuclear organization by interacting with NPM1 in the granular nucleolar component, driven by specific nucleolar RNAs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSARS-CoV-2 infection of human pluripotent stem cell-derived vascular cells reveals smooth muscle cells as key mediators of vascular pathology during infection.
Nat Commun
December 2024
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
Although respiratory symptoms are the most prevalent disease manifestation of infection by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), nearly 20% of hospitalized patients are at risk for thromboembolic events. This prothrombotic state is considered a key factor in the increased risk of stroke, which is observed clinically during both acute infection and long after symptoms clear. Here, we develop a model of SARS-CoV-2 infection using human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells (ECs), pericytes (PCs), and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) to recapitulate the vascular pathology associated with SARS-CoV-2 exposure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRobust and inducible genome editing via an all-in-one prime editor in human pluripotent stem cells.
Nat Commun
December 2024
The SKI Stem Cell Research Facility, The Center for Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, USA.
Prime editing (PE) allows for precise genome editing in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), such as introducing single nucleotide modifications, small insertions or deletions at a specific genomic locus. Here, we systematically compare a panel of prime editing conditions in hPSCs and generate a potent prime editor, "PE-Plus", through co-inhibition of mismatch repair and p53-mediated cellular stress responses. We further establish an inducible prime editing platform in hPSCs by incorporating the PE-Plus into a safe-harbor locus and demonstrated temporal control of precise editing in both hPSCs and differentiated cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLocalized molecular chaperone synthesis maintains neuronal dendrite proteostasis.
Nat Commun
December 2024
Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Proteostasis is maintained through regulated protein synthesis and degradation and chaperone-assisted protein folding. However, this is challenging in neuronal projections because of their polarized morphology and constant synaptic proteome remodeling. Using high-resolution fluorescence microscopy, we discover that hippocampal and spinal cord motor neurons of mouse and human origin localize a subset of chaperone mRNAs to their dendrites and use microtubule-based transport to increase this asymmetric localization following proteotoxic stress.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDLK-dependent axonal mitochondrial fission drives degeneration after axotomy.
Nat Commun
December 2024
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Currently there are no effective treatments for an array of neurodegenerative disorders to a large part because cell-based models fail to recapitulate disease. Here we develop a reproducible human iPSC-based model where laser axotomy causes retrograde axon degeneration leading to neuronal cell death. Time-lapse confocal imaging revealed that damage triggers an apoptotic wave of mitochondrial fission proceeding from the site of injury to the soma.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!