Loss of tight junctions disrupts gastrulation patterning and increases differentiation towards the germ cell lineage in human pluripotent stem cells

To investigate the role of tight junctions in BMP4 signaling and differentiation, we knocked down TJP1 in human pluripotent stem cells using CRISPRi, and examined gene expression via RNA sequencing of TWT (no KD) and TKD (TJP1 KD) cells in the untreated pluripotent (P) state and after BMP4 differentiation (B). Comparative gene expression profiling analysis of RNA-seq data for TWT and TKD cells cultured on standard plates (S) and transwells (T), in the pluripotent (P) and BMP4 differentiated (B) conditions.