The Stem Cell Podcast

Ep. 305: “Glial Cell Fate” Featuring Dr. Paul Tesar

Sep 30, 2025
Dr. Paul Tesar, Director of the Institute for Glial Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, dives into his research on oligodendrocyte maturation and environmental chemicals that hinder glial development. He discusses the importance of mentorship in shaping future scientists and the creation of Convelo, a company aimed at translating lab discoveries into therapies. Tesar also shares insights on balancing high-throughput screens to foster innovation, all while emphasizing his dedication to the community and collaborative opportunities at his institution.
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INSIGHT

Timing Gate Controls Oligodendrocyte Maturation

  • Paul Tesar discovered a timing regulator (SOX6) that holds oligodendrocytes in an immature state until conditions are right for maturation.
  • Removing SOX6 collapses a decondensed chromatin transcriptional unit and lets cells mature, revealing a temporal control over differentiation.
INSIGHT

Full-Gene Chromatin Signals Reveal 'Gene Melting'

  • The team observed unusual ATAC and H3K27ac signals spanning full gene bodies at key loci in immature oligodendrocytes.
  • These signals indicate extreme chromatin decondensation forming a biophysical transcriptional unit linked to maturation timing.
INSIGHT

Common Disinfectants Harm Oligodendrocytes

  • Screening ~2,000 EPA environmental chemicals revealed oligodendrocytes are uniquely sensitive to quaternary ammonium compounds.
  • These common disinfectant chemicals proved cytotoxic in vitro, mice, and human brain organoids, linking environment to oligodendrocyte vulnerability.
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