May 8 @ 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Dr. Ru Gunawardane
Executive Director
Allen Institute for Cell Science
“Towards understanding cell states and transitions in hiPSCs: an integrated spatiotemporal approach”
Abstract: The Allen Institute for Cell Science aims to understand the principles by which human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) establish and maintain robust dynamic localization of cellular structures, and how the cells transition between states during differentiation. Towards this aim, we created a collection of fluorescent-tagged clonal hiPSC lines (Allen Cell Collection) using CRISPR/Cas9 to fluorescently tag proteins that localize to the major organelles of the cell using the WTC-11 hiPSC parental line. Live 3D imaging, single cell image analysis, quantitation, modeling, visualization, and open distribution define our endeavor. We have generated fluorescently tagged hiPSC clonal lines for 58 cellular organelles/structures and performed key genetic, cell biological, and stem cell validation. Using these cell lines, we have imaged and quantified distinct aspects of intracellular organization in hiPSCs including the variation of intracellular organization in single cells across the hiPSC population. I will highlight a couple of use cases for these tools including the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a fundamental process in development that is also observed during early mesoderm differentiation of hiPSCs. Using this model system, we are interrogating the interplay between cell organization, cell behavior, the molecular components, and the environment to define a more holistic cell state. We also characterized sarcomere organization in hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and the relationship to key cardiac markers associated with differentiation and maturation. We are expanding these studies to hiPSC-derived endothelial cells and 3D lumenoids by developing novel experimental and computational approaches to understand rules of morphogenesis. Our cell lines, plasmids, 3D images, various analysis and visualization tools, integrated cell models, and biological findings are available to the research community (www.allencell.org).
Host: Ken Cho
Seminar will be held in person only.
For questions about this event, please contact Mayra Rubio at mrubio3@uci.edu.