Stem cells on the Rock(s)

The Esseltine lab uses human stem cells and gene editing to study cell-cell communication and rare genetic diseases. Pluripotent stem cells are unspecialized cells with two main characteristics: they are able to self-replicate indefinitely and they are able to differentiate into theoretically any cell type in the body. One of the earliest cell fate decisions made during development is commitment to one of the three embryonic germ layers: ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. We will begin by exploring how the Pannexin1 large pore channel influences stem cell germ lineage commitment of human pluripotent stem cells. Next we will examine how Pannexin 1 is expressed and regulated in and human cerebral organoid, or “mini brain” development. Finally, we will switch gears to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying inherited heart disease in the Newfoundland population. We will learn the basic life cycle of the TMEM43 protein and how TMEM43 knockout affects human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and other cell types. The ultimate goal of this project is to model inherited heart disease using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells.