Investigating the role of NODAL signalling in preimplantation human embryos

NODAL signalling is required to maintain pluripotency in human embryonic stem cells, by maintaining expression of transcription factor NANOG. We treated human blastocysts with NODAL signalling inhibitor A8301 and performed RNAseq on whole embryos to determine if NANOG expression and pluripotency in human embryos requires NODAL signalling activity. Human blastocysts were treated from 6 dpf for 24h with ACTIVIN/NODAL signalling inhibitor A8301 or volume matched DMSO. Whole blastocysts were collected for cDNA generation and RNA sequencing.