This study generates human cerebral organoids with a structured outer subventricular zone by activating the STAT3 pathway with LIF, mimicking in vivo oRG development and enhancing neuronal maturation.

Cell Reports · Apr 1, 2024Peer-reviewedDevelopmental Biology

An epigenetic barrier sets the timing of human neuronal maturation

Gabriele Ciceri, Arianna Baggiolini, Hyunwoo Cho, Meghana Kshirsagar, Silvia K. Benito-Kwiecinski, Ryan M. Walsh, Kelly A. Aromolaran, Alberto J. Gonzalez-Hernandez, Hermany Munguba, So Yeon Koo, Nan Xu, Kaylin J. Sevilla, Peter A. Goldstein, Joshua Levitz, Christina S. Leslie, , Lorenz Studer

Chromatin regulators including EZH2, EHMT1/2, and DOT1L establish an epigenetic barrier in human neural progenitors that poises maturation genes and sets the protracted pace of cortical neuron maturation.

Nature · Jan 31, 2024Peer-reviewedDevelopmental Biology✦ In-depth digest

Combined small molecule treatment accelerates timing of maturation in human pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons

Emiliano Hergenreder, Andrew P. Minotti, Yana Zorina, Polina Oberst, Zeping Zhao, Hermany Munguba, Elizabeth L. Calder, Arianna Baggiolini, Ryan M. Walsh, Conor M. Liston, Joshua Levitz, Ralph J. Garippa, Shuibing Chen, Gabriele Ciceri, Lorenz Studer

This study identifies a drug cocktail that accelerates maturation of hPSC-derived neurons and other cell types through pharmacological intervention.

Nature Biotechnology · Jan 2, 2024Peer-reviewedNeuroscience

DNA damage-induced interaction between a lineage addiction oncogenic transcription factor and the MRN complex shapes a tissue-specific DNA Damage Response and cancer predisposition

Romuald Binet, Jean‐Philippe Lambert, Markéta Tomková, Samuel Tischfield, Arianna Baggiolini, S. Picaud, Sovan Sarkar, Pakavarin Louphrasitthiphol, Diogo Dias, Suzanne Carreira, Timothy C. Humphrey, P. Filippakopoulos, Richard Mark White, Colin R. Goding

This study shows that the transcription factor MITF interacts with the MRN complex to modulate the DNA damage response in melanoma, contributing to cancer predisposition.

bioRxiv · Apr 21, 2023 · PreprintMolecular Biology