Directing ES Cells Towards Specific Mesoderm and Ectoderm Fates

1
Seminar Series
Directing ES Cells Towards Specific Mesoderm and
Ectoderm Fates
Prof Tiziano Barberi, Assistant Professor, Head,
Laboratory of Stem Cells and Development, Divisio
n of Neurosciences, Beckman Research Institute, CA
Because of their early embryonic origin, human
embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can be induced to
recapitulate in vitro the earliest stages of
human development and can be differentiated into
a variety of tissues and specialized cells. My
group is interested in the directed
differentiation of hESC into specific derivatives
of the mesoderm and the ectoderm germ layers. In
particular, we set up culture conditions for the
generation of skeletal myoblasts and their
precursors as mesoderm derivatives that can be
used in transplants. Human ESC-derived skeletal
muscle cells will be tested for their ability to
repair dystrophic muscle fibers in animal models
of muscular dystrophy, a devastating disease for
which there is currently no cure or treatment
available. We are also using hESCs to unveil the
development of the human neural crest, from which
the peripheral nervous system, melanocytes, part
of the skull bones and other specialized cells
are formed. The genes involved in the development
of the neural crest are highly conserved among
vertebrates. Nevertheless, their role in its
specification in each species may differ
significantly. By monitoring the expression of
specific markers at cellular and molecular level,
we follow the specification and differentiation
of neural crest cells from hESCs, while
reconstructing the hierarchy of genes involved in
this process.
1.00pm Thur 20th Nov. Meeting Room G19 Ground
Floor STRIP (Building 75) Monash
University Clayton