Candidate Stem Cell Isolation and Transplantation in Hexacorallia

We aimed to study the capacity of candidate stem cells in Nematostella vectensis to differentiate upon transplantation into a recipient animal. TBP::mCherry transgenic animals were used as donors. Cells were isolated from the mesentery of a donor and RNA was extracted. 40 days upon transplantation recipient animals were dissociated and mCherry positive cells were isolated by FACS. RNA was then extracted and sequenced. We then compared the transcriptomes before and after transplantation.