SPP 1356: Pluripotency and Cellular Reprogramming
Medicine
Final Report Abstract
The unique properties of pluripotent embryonic stem ES cells to self-renew and to give rise to a full spectrum of differentiated cells has fascinated biologists since decades. Unraveling the molecular pathways of pluripotency provides fundamental insights into cell fate decisions and it opens new strategies for directed reprogramming and efficient commitment into specific lineages. To better understand the molecular machineries of pluripotency and pluripotency induction, concerted and multi-disciplinary efforts are required. The 6 year running time of the priority program SPP 1356 - ‘Pluripotency and Cellular Reprogramming’ started in 2008 with 23 evaluated projects of which 15 were university and 6 non-university groups (MPI, DKFZ, Helmholtz), 2 were joined projects of university and MPI groups. Based on the level of molecular insights into ES cell regulation and reprogramming the key topics of the SPP 1356 focused on two areas: a.) the identification and characterization of genetic and epigenetic networks that control pluripotency; b.) the mechanisms governing the reinstatement of pluripotency in differentiated cells. The scientific focus of the SPP1356 was and remains at the heart of international Stem Cell research. Over two consecutive rounds of selection (3 year funding periods) the participating projects remained by and large constant. The groups in the SPP1356 developed a strong network with manifold interactions between participants at all levels. The SPP1356 served as a platform to discuss concepts and new data and to exchange protocols and materials. The interactions become evident by joined projects publications and novel initiatives originating from SPP1356 participants. The program was very productive. With some 180 original peer reviewed international publications (excluding reviews) each project generated on average 6,9 original publications. A considerable number of these publications were published in journals with high impact factors.
Publications
- (2011) 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine in the mammalian zygote is linked with epigenetic reprogramming. Nat Commun 2: 241
Wossidlo M, Nakamura T, Lepikhov K, Marques CJ, Zakhartchenko V, Boiani M, Arand J, Nakano T, Reik W, Walter J
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms1240) - (2011) Generation of subtype-specific neurons from postnatal astroglia of the mouse cerebral cortex. Nature Protocols 6: 214-228
Heinrich C, Gascon S, Masserdotti G, Lepier A, Sanchez R, Simon-Ebert T, Schroeder T, Götz M, Berninger B
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2010.188) - (2011) Long-term single-cell imaging of mammalian stem cells. Nat Methods 8: S30-35
Schroeder T
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1038/nmeth.1577) - (2012) Reprogramming to pluripotency is an ancient trait of vertebrate Oct4 and Pou2 proteins. Nat Commun 3: 1279
Tapia N, Reinhardt P, Duemmler A, Wu G, Arauzo-Bravo MJ, Esch D, Greber B, Cojocaru V, Rascon CA, Tazaki A, Kump K, Voss R, Tanaka EM, Schöler HR
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms2229) - (2013) A localized Wnt signal orients asymmetric stem cell division in vitro. Science 339: 1445-1448
Habib SJ, Chen BC, Tsai FC, Anastassiadis K, Meyer T, Betzig E, Nusse R
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1231077) - (2013) A self-organization framework for symmetry breaking in the mammalian embryo. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 14: 452-459
Wennekamp S, Mesecke S, Nedelec F, Hiiragi T
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm3602) - (2013) A unique Oct4 interface is crucial for reprogramming to pluripotency. Nat Cell Biol 15: 295-301
Esch D, Vahokoski J, Groves MR, Pogenberg V, Cojocaru V, Vom Bruch H, Han D, Drexler HC, Arauzo-Bravo MJ, Ng CK, Jauch R, Wilmanns M, Schöler HR
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb2680) - (2013) Live imaging of astrocyte responses to acute injury reveals selective juxtavascular proliferation. Nature Neuroscience 16: 580-586
Bardehle S, Kruger M, Buggenthin F, Schwausch J, Ninkovic J, Clevers H, Snippert HJ, Theis FJ, Meyer-Luehmann M, Bechmann I, Dimou L, Götz M
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.3371) - (2013) Oligodendrogliogenic and neurogenic adult subependymal zone neural stem cells constitute distinct lineages and exhibitdifferential responsiveness to Wnt signalling. Nat Cell Biol 15: 602-613
Ortega F, Gascon S, Masserdotti G, Deshpande A, Simon C, Fischer J, Dimou L, Chichung Lie D, Schroeder T, Berninger B
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb2736) - (2014) Cell-to-cell expression variability followed by signal reinforcement progressively segregates early mouse lineages. Nat Cell Biol 16: 27-37
Ohnishi Y, Huber W, Tsumura A, Kang M, Xenopoulos P, Kurimoto K, Oles AK, Arauzo-Bravo MJ, Saitou M, Hadjantonakis AK, Hiiragi T
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb2881)
