RNA-seq of mouse embryonic stem cells differentiated to EpiSCs and further to presomitic mesoderm (PSM) via Wnt activation (CHIR99021) to study the influence of FGF signaling on PSM induction. RNA-seq of mouse embryonic stem cells differentiated to EpiSCs and further to presomitic mesoderm (PSM) via Wnt activation (CHIR99021) to study the influence of FGF signaling on PSM induction

Presomitic mesoderm (PSM) cells are the precursors of the somites, which flank both sides of the neural tube and give rise to the musculo-skeletal system shaping the vertebrate body. WNT and FGF signalling control the formation of both the PSM and the somites, and show a graded distribution with highest levels in the posterior PSM. We have employed reporter for the PSM control gene Tbx6 to investigate the differentiation of mouse ESCs from the naĂŻve state to PSM state. Feeder-free ESCs were seeded and grown on fibronectin (3-5 ng/ml)-coated plates in ESC medium containing LIF, PD0325901 and CHIR99021 (2i medium) to bring them to a naive state of pluripotency. Following this, the cells were brought to an EpiSC state by treating them with Activin A and FGF2. The EpiSC-like cells were then differentiated to PSM using CHIR99021 either alone or along with FGF ligands, FGF2 or FGF8 (Low concentration: 10 ng/ml or High concentration: 250ng/ml).