We reexamine the individual components for human ES and iPS cell culture, and formulate a cell culture system in which all protein reagents for liquid media, attachment surfaces, and splitting are chemically defined. A major improvement is the lack of a serum albumin component, as variations in either animal or human sourced albumin batches have previously plagued human ES and iPS cell culture with inconsistencies. Using this new medium (E8) and vitronectin-coated surfaces, we demonstrate improved derivation efficiencies of vector-free human iPS cells with an episomal approach. This simplified E8 medium should facilitate both the research use and clinical applications of human ES and iPS cells and their derivatives, and should be applicable to other reprogramming methods.

SUMMARY Epigenetic mechanisms have been proposed to play crucial roles in mammalian development, but their precise functions are only partially understood. To investigate epigenetic regulation of embryonic development, we differentiated human embryonic stem cells into mesendoderm, neural progenitor cells, trophoblast-like cells, and mesenchymal stem cells, and systematically characterized DNA methylation, chromatin modifications, and the transcriptome in each lineage. We found that promoters that are active in early developmental stages tend to be CG rich and mainly engage H3K27me3 upon silencing in non-expressing lineages. By contrast, promoters for genes expressed preferentially at later stages are often CG poor and primarily employ DNA methylation upon repression. Interestingly, the early developmental regulatory genes are often located in large genomic domains that are generally devoid of DNA methylation in most lineages, which we termed DNA methylation valleys (DMVs). Our results suggest that distinct epigenetic mechanisms regulate early and late stages of ES cell differentiation.

Significance Genome engineering in human pluripotent stem cells holds great promise for biomedical research and regenerative medicine, but it is very challenging. Recently, an RNA-guided nuclease system called clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) has been applied to genome engineering, greatly increasing the efficiency of genome editing. Here, using a CRISPR-Cas system identified in Neisseria meningitidis , which is distinct from the commonly used Streptococcus pyogenes system, we demonstrate efficient genome engineering in human pluripotent stem cells. Our study could have a tremendous impact in regenerative medicine.