Search

Two new briarane diterpenoids briareolate esters J (1) and K (2) were isolated from the methanolic extract of the octocoral Briareum asbestinum collected off the coast of Boca Raton, Florida. The structures of briaranes 1 and 2 were elucidated by interpretation of spectroscopic data. Briareolate ester K (2) showed weak growth inhibition activity against human embryonic stem cells (BG02). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novocell, Inc. is a stem cell engineering company creating, delivering and commercializing cell and drug therapies for diabetes and other chronic diseases. The use of human embryonic stem cells provides a scalable source of any differentiated lineage that has potential for cell replacement therapy, as well as tools for drug discovery to create regenerative medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the role of cell surface glycosphingolipids stage-specific embryonic antigen 3 (SSEA-3) and SSEA-4 in human embryonic stem cell (hESC) pluripotency. The results demonstrated that glycosphingolipids do not play a critical functional role in maintaining the pluripotency of hESC but suggested roles for the molecules during cellular differentiation.

Purpose: To explore a karyotypically abnormal variant human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line, BG01V, as a potential model for studies of dopaminergic neuronal differentiation. Methods: The properties of BG01V cells were compared to those of normal BG01 cells using immunocytochemistry, RT-PCR, focused microarrays and in vitro differentiation, including dopaminergic differentiation, by culturing with the stromal cell line PA6. Results: Despite the karyotypic abnormality (49, +12, +17 and XXY), undifferentiated BG01V cells expressed pluripotent ESC markers similar to BG01 cells, and retained the ability to differentiate into cell types characteristic of all three germ layers. When co-cultured with the stromal cell line PA6, BG01V cells differentiated into dopaminergic cells which exhibited properties similar to those of mature dopaminergic neurons. Conclusions: BG01V cells were easier to maintain in culture than karyotypically normal BG01 cells and can be used as an alternative pluripotent hESC type for in vitro developmental studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]