Priming of neuroectoderm enhancers in human embryonic stem cells

Title	Priming of neuroectoderm enhancers in human embryonic stem cells
Acronym	Neuroprime
Start date	2021-01-01
End date	2025-12-31
Sponsor	Horizon Europe Framework Programme
Institution	Wolf Reik Lab

Associated cell lines

• CAMe001-A (HNES-1, HNES1)
• CAMe002-A (HNES-3, HNES3)
• WAe009-A (H9, WA09)

Project Description

We have discovered that neuroectoderm enhancers (but not mesodermal or endodermal ones) are primed by chromatin accessibility and hypomethylation in mouse embryonic stem cells (Argelaguet et al 2019 Nature). In this project we aim to determine if such priming also exist in human embryonic stem cells, and if so, what its function might be in neuroectoderm differentiation in vitro. We will use enhancer annotations from various in vitro differentiation and from in vivo tissue datasets, and map their epigenetic properties in hESCs. We will subsequently manipulate such elements in hESCs by Crispr/Cas9 targeting, and determine the impact of altering their function on neuroectoderm commitment and differentiation in vitro.