Rebecca Noort

Ms. Rebecca Noort


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

6Years (2021-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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22 December 2021 in Biomolecules
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
GCGrace Allison Christopher
Grace Allison Christopher
RNRebecca Noort
Rebecca Noort
JEJessica Esseltine
Jessica Esseltine
During embryonic germ layer development, cells communicate with each other and their environment to ensure proper lineage specification and tissue development. Connexin (Cx) proteins facilitate direct cell–cell communication through gap junction channels. While previous reports suggest that gap junctional intercellular communication may contribute to germ layer formation, there have been limited comprehensive expression analyses or genetic ablation studies on Cxs during human pluripotent stem cell (PSC) germ lineage specification. We screened the mRNA profile and protein expression patterns of select human Cx isoforms in undifferentiated human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and after directed differentiation into the three embryonic germ lineages: ectoderm, definitive endoderm, and mesoderm. Transcript analyses by qPCR revealed upregulation of Cx45 and Cx62 in iPSC-derived ectoderm; Cx45 in mesoderm; and Cx30.3, Cx31, Cx32, Cx36, Cx37, and Cx40 in endoderm relative to control human iPSCs. Generated Cx43 (GJA1) CRISPR-Cas9 knockout iPSCs successfully differentiated into cells of all three germ layers, suggesting that Cx43 is dispensable during directed iPSC lineage specification. Furthermore, qPCR screening of select Cx transcripts in our GJA1-/- iPSCs showed no significant Cx upregulation in response to the loss of Cx43 protein. Future studies will reveal possible compensation by additional Cxs, suggesting targets for future CRISPR-Cas9 ablation studies in human iPSC lineage specification.