An Alternative Culture Method to Maintain Genomic Hypomethylation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Using MEK Inhibitor PD0325901 and Vitamin C

Summary

We described in detail two chemical-based protocols for culturing mouse embryonic stem cells. This new method utilizes synergistic mechanisms of promoting Tet-mediated oxidation (by vitamin C) and repressing de novo synthesis of 5-methylcytosine (by PD0325901) to maintain DNA hypomethylation and pluripotency of mouse embryonic stem cells.

Abstract

Embryonic stem (ES) cells have the potential to differentiate into any of the three germ layers (endoderm, mesoderm, or ectoderm), and can generate many lineages for regenerative medicine. ES cell culture in vitro has long been the subject of widespread concerns. Classically, mouse ES cells are maintained in serum and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)-containing medium. However, under serum/LIF conditions, cells show heterogeneity in morphology and the expression profile of pluripotency-related genes, and are mostly in a metastable state. Moreover, cultured ES cells exhibit global hypermethylation, but naïve ES cells of the inner cell mass (ICM) and primordial germ cells (PGCs) are in a state of global hypomethylation. The hypomethylated state of ICM and PGCs is closely associated with their pluripotency. To improve mouse ES cell culture methods, we have recently developed a new method based on the selectively combined utilization of two small-molecule compounds to maintain the DNA hypomethylated and pluripotent state. Here, we present that the co-treatment of vitamin C (Vc) and PD0325901 can erase about 90% of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) at 5 days in mouse ES cells. The generated 5mC content is comparable to that in PGCs. The mechanistic investigation shows that PD0325901 up-regulates Prdm14 expression to suppress Dnmt3b (de novo DNA methyltransferase) and Dnmt3l (the cofactor of Dnmt3b), by reducing de novo 5mC synthesis. Vc facilitates the conversion of 5mC to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) catalyzed mainly by Tet1 and Tet2, indicating the involvement of both passive and active DNA demethylations. Moreover, under Vc/PD0325901 conditions, mouse ES cells show homogeneous morphology and pluripotent state. Collectively, we propose a novel and chemical-synergy culture method for achieving DNA hypomethylation and maintenance of pluripotency in mouse ES cells. The small-molecule chemical-dependent method overcomes the major shortcomings of serum culture, and holds promise to generate homogeneous ES cells for further clinical applications and researches.

Introduction

ES cells are originated from the ICM of a blastocyst¹. The cells are in a pluripotency state and can form all somatic lineages and germline cells². Establishment of ES cells provides the opportunity to investigate the development processes in vitro and can generate cells of medical relevance for regenerative medicine based on their pluripotency³.

Two groups seminally established the mouse ES cell lines in 1981 and when cells derived from the early mouse embryo were cultured in fetal bovine serum (FBS)-containing medium with mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) as the feeder layer^1,4. MEFs were inactivated mitotically and were pre-grown in dishes prior to culturing ES cells. MEFs provide support for mouse ES cell attachment and produce growth factors to promote propagation and repress the differentiation⁵, while FBS offers essential trophic factors and hormones for cell proliferation. Subsequent studies indicated that LIF produced by feeder cells was the key cytokine for self-renewal and maintenance of pluripotency in mouse ES cells, and the addition of LIF into the medium could substitute for feeder cells⁶. Currently, the sustainment of mouse ES cells in FBS/LIF medium on feeders is still the standard method adopted by many researchers. However, some problems arise with this classical culture approach. Firstly, feeder cells secrete excess and uncontrolled factors and may cause pathogenic contamination⁷. To avoid this interference, coating the surface of dishes with gelatin and the addition of LIF in serum-containing medium are alternative methods for maintaining mouse ES cells without feeder-layer cells. Additionally, mouse ES cells grown under serum/LIF conditions exhibit morphological heterogeneity in cell populations and even in the expression level of pluripotency-related factors⁸. Recent studies suggest that under serum/LIF conditions, the pluripotency-related core transcription factors (including SOX2, Nanog, and OCT4) can sustain the pluripotency through LIF and WNT signaling; however, notably, they also activate a fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signal to trigger differentiation⁸. Due to the ambivalent dual action of the core transcription factors, mouse ES cells cultured in serum present heterogeneity, consisting of two interchangeable populations, one similar to ICM and another resembling the primed epiblast state⁸. Moreover, mouse ES cells in serum often exhibit global hypermethylation⁹, whereas ICM and PGCs are in a global hypomethylated state, which is closely linked with their pluripotency^9,10.

There is a considerable demand to develop new methods for culturing mouse ES cells. Several improved protocols have been established since 2003¹¹ but there continues to be some limitations and shortcomings⁷. Since 2008, the combined utilization of two small-molecule kinase inhibitors, PD0325901 (the inhibitor of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) (MEK)) and CHIR99021 (the inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3)), in N₂B₂₇ medium with LIF and without serum has opened new perspectives for culturing mouse ES cells¹². This new defined medium is characterized by the use of two inhibitors (2i). Mouse ES cells cultured in 2i/LIF medium are more homogeneous in cell populations and the expression of pluripotency factors. In addition, 2i/LIF-cultured mouse ES cells exhibit DNA hypomethylation globally, which is closer to ICM-like cells^9,13. Even so, 2i culture has its disadvantages. PD0325901 and CHIR99021 are insoluble in water and generally are dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-based stock solution to add them in culture medium. Studies have showed that long-term and low-dose exposure of cells to DMSO can lead to cytotoxicity¹⁴.

Here, we utilized two small-molecule compounds and developed a new culture method of mouse ES cells. The novel culture method combines Vc and MEK inhibitor PD0325901 to promote DNA hypomethylation rapidly and effectively to a comparable level of PGC, named as the Vc/PD0325901 culturing protocol. Mouse ES cells in Vc/PD0325901-added serum-containing medium exhibit homogeneity in morphology and are sustained in a ground state. Compared to 2i culture, mouse ES cells cultured under Vc/PD0325901 conditions exhibit faster kinetics of DNA demethylation and can reach the hypomethylation level comparable to that of PGC. In addition, the use of a single inhibitor (PD0325901) decreases the input amount of DMSO into medium in comparison to that used in 2i (PD0325901/CHIR99021) and reduces the damage to cells.

Protocol

1. Preparations

1. Prepare a solution of 1.0 mM PD0325901 (MEK inhibitor) and 3.0 mM CHIR99021 (GSK3 inhibitor).
   1. Weigh 2 mg of PD0325901 and add 4.15 mL of DMSO in an amber glass vial.
   2. Weigh 2 mg of CHIR99021 and add 1.43 mL of DMSO in an amber glass vial.
   3. Following reconstitution, store aliquots (50 µL/tube in 200 µL PCR tubes) at -20 °C and protected from light. Remove a tube containing the frozen stock from a freezer and thaw at room temperature before use.
2. Weigh 0.0176 g of Vc into 1 mL of a centrifuge tube and reconstitute it with 1 mL of sterile water to a final concentration of 100 mM prior to use.
3. Inactivate FBS: incubate 500 mL of FBS in a water bath at 56 °C for 30 min.
4. Prepare 600 mL of basic medium for culturing mouse ES cells.
   1. Use a bottle of DMEM/high glucose medium (500 mL) and remove 40 mL.
   2. Supplement 460 mL of DMEM/high glucose medium with 20% inactivated FBS (120 mL), 1,000 U/mL LIF (60 µL of 10⁷ U/mL stock solution), 0.1 mM non-essential amino acids (NEAA) (6 mL of 10 mM stock solution), 1 mM sodium pyruvate (6 mL of 100 mM stock solution), 2 mM L-glutamine (6 mL of 200 mM stock solution), 0.1 mM β-mercaptoethanol (600 µL of 100 mM stock solution), and 33 IU/mL penicillin and 33 µg/mL streptomycin (2 mL of penicillin-streptomycin mixed solution (10,000 IU/mL penicillin and 10,000 µg/mL streptomycin)). Define the basic medium as serum medium.
   3. Pipette 50 µL of stock solution of PD0325901 (1.0 mM) and Vc (100 mM), respectively, into 50 mL of the serum medium (final concentration: 1.0 µM PD0325901 and 100 µM Vc), and define the medium as Vc/PD0325901 medium.
      NOTE: Prepare the Vc/PD0325901 medium fresh before use due to the instability of Vc.
   4. Using a pipette, transfer 50 µL of stock solution of PD0325901 (1.0 mM) and CHIR99021 (3.0 mM), respectively, into 50 mL of the serum medium (final concentration: PD0325901 1.0 µM and CHIR99021 3.0 µM), and define the medium as 2i medium.
5. Prepare the gelatin-coated dishes.
   1. Prepare the 0.1% gelatin solution: dissolve 0.3 g of gelatin into 300 mL of ultrapure water in a glass reagent bottle with a cap and sterilize in an autoclave at 121 °C for 20 min. Store the sterile solution at room temperature.
   2. Incubate the cell culture dishes (6 cm diameter) with 2 mL of 0.1% gelatin solution for 15 min at room temperature and then aspirate the gelatin. Dry the dishes in air and use them within 12 h.
6. Prepare 10 mL of mouse ES cell freezing medium in a 15 mL centrifuge tube: 90% FBS (9 mL) and 10% DMSO (1 mL). Use the medium within 1 day.
7. Prepare a freezing container: add 100% isopropyl alcohol to the fill line of the freezing container, and discard the old isopropyl alcohol. Add new isopropyl alcohol directly after every fifth use.
8. Make the enzymatic digestion buffer: weigh 1.2114 g of Tris powder into 100 mL of ultrapure water to prepare 100 mM Tris solution and add concentrated HCl solution (about 12 M) into the Tris solution to adjust the pH to 7.6 (about 0.6 mL of concentrated HCl solution).
9. Prepare 50 mL of radio immunoprecipitation assay buffer (RIPA buffer): 20 mM Tris, pH 7.4, 1 mM MgCl₂, 150 mM NaCl, 20% glycerol, 0.5% NP40, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM EGTA. Supplement with 1 mM DTT, 1X protease inhibitor cocktail, and 1 mM PMSF prior to use. Once the PMSF is added, use the buffer within 30 min.

2. Grow Mouse ES Cells on Gelatin-coated Dishes

1. Pre-warm mouse ES cells (wild type, 129 SvEv) culture medium, trypsin, and phosphate buffered solution (PBS) in a water bath at 37 °C.
2. Passage the cells. Aspirate the medium completely from the dish and pipette 2 mL of PBS to the dishes to rinse the cells.
   1. Remove the PBS with a pipette and wash the cells again with 2 mL of PBS.
   2. Remove the PBS and add 0.3 mL of trypsin-EDTA (0.25%) to each dish.
   3. Cover the whole dish with the trypsin quickly and then remove it immediately.
   4. Put the dish in an incubator at 37 °C for 1 min to detach the cells from the dish. Take out the dishes from the incubator and add 2 mL of pre-warmed serum medium to terminate the action of trypsin.
   5. Dissociate the cell colonies into a single cell suspension by resuspending with a pipette (5 mL pipette tip) 10 times.
3. Transfer 150 µL of 2 mL of the cell solution (about 190,000 cells by counting with a hemocytometer) into a new gelatin-coated dish, and supplement with 3 mL of freshly made Vc/PD0325901 medium per 6 cm culture dish. Culture the cells in a 37 °C incubator with 5% CO₂.
4. Every 24 h while incubating, remove the old culture medium and add 3 mL of fresh Vc/PD0325901-medium into the culture dish due to the instability of Vc. Expect 70–80% confluency after 2–3 days.
5. After reaching 70-80% confluency, passage the cells and continue to culture them as described in steps 2.2–2.4.

3. Freeze and Thaw Mouse ES Cells

1. Freeze mouse ES cells.
   1. Detach the cells from the dishes with trypsin by following step 2.2.
   2. Transfer the cells into a 15 mL plastic tube and centrifuge at 800 x g and room temperature for 3 min.
   3. Dump the supernatant gently into a beaker and resuspend the cell pellet with 1 mL of freshly made freezing medium. Prepare the freezing medium 30 min prior to this step to ensure that it is room temperature before use.
   4. Transfer the cells in freezing medium to a 1.8 mL microcentrifuge tube with a 1 mL pipette and place the microcentrifuge tube into a freezing container. Add isopropyl alcohol to the fill line of the freezing container and keep it at room temperature before using.
   5. Leave the freezing containers overnight in a -80 °C freezer.
   6. Transfer the microcentrifuge tubes to a liquid nitrogen container for up to 2–3 years.
      NOTE: Do not keep cells in the freezing medium for a long time and quickly transfer the cells to a -80 °C freezer due to the toxicity of DMSO.
2. Thaw mouse ES cells.
   1. Pre-warm 50 mL of serum medium in a 37 °C water bath.
   2. Take out a cell-containing vial from the liquid nitrogen container and immerse the capped vial in a 37 °C water bath. Shake it quickly in the water bath to thaw. Transfer the cells into a 15 mL tube with a 1 mL pipette. Add 2 mL of pre-warmed serum culture medium into the tube to dilute the freezing medium and then centrifuge at 800 x g and room temperature for 3 min.
   3. Remove the supernatant and gently resuspend the cell pellets with 3 mL of fresh Vc/PD0325901 medium using a 5 mL pipette.
   4. Transfer the cells from the 15 mL tube to a gelatin-coated dish and culture the cells for 24 h. Culture the cells again as described in Step 2.

4. Extract Total Protein from Cells

1. Rinse the collected cells with 1 mL of PBS and then centrifuge at 800 x g and room temperature for 3 min.
2. Aspirate the supernatant and resuspend the cell pellet thoroughly with RIPA buffer supplemented with DTT, protease inhibitor cocktail, and PMSF by pipetting gently. The volume of RIPA buffer is about 5x that of the cell pellet.
   NOTE: Carry out the cell resuspension on ice.
3. Keep the cells in RIPA buffer for 30 min on ice and centrifuge at 13,000 x g and 4 °C for 5 min.
4. Transfer the supernatant to a new tube and store aliquots at -80 °C.
5. Determine the concentration of the protein with a Bradford protein assay kit.

5. Extract DNA from Cells and Digest DNA into a Single Nucleoside Using Enzymes

1. Collect the cells with trypsin as described in steps 3.1.1 and 3.1.2.
2. Perform the DNA extraction with a genomic DNA purification kit following the manufacturer's instructions.
3. Store the extracted DNA in 1-mL centrifuge tubes. Add 100 µL of ultrapure water into the centrifuge tube, and dissolve the DNA by pipetting approximately 15 times. Determine the concentration and evaluate the quality of DNA by the measurement of the absorbance at 260 nm and 280 nm¹⁵. The DNA concentration is about 500 ng/µL.
4. Digest 5 µg of DNA in a 50 µL solution system: add 5 µL of 100 mM Tris-HCl solution, pH 7.6 (final concentration: 10 mM), 2 U calf intestinal phosphatase, 1 U DNase I, 0.005 U snake venom phosphodiesterase I, and 5 µg of DNA (calculate the added volume according to the measured DNA concentration, ~10 µL) into a centrifuge tube and increase the volume of solution to 50 µL with ultrapure water. Incubate the mixture at 37 °C overnight. Centrifuge the digested DNA solution at 1,000 g and room temperature for 1 min to collect the solution to the bottom of tubes.
5. Transfer the digested DNA solution from the centrifuge tubes into ultra-filtration tubes (a molecule weight cutoff: 3 kDa) and centrifuge at 13,000 g and 4 °C for 30 min to remove the digestion enzymes.
6. Prepare the samples for 5mC and 5hmC analysis.
   1. For 5hmC analysis: pipet 36 µL of filter solution to a new centrifuge tube (1 mL) and add 4 µL of 5'-(hydroxymethyl-d₃)-2'-deoxycytidine ([D₃]-5hmC) with the final concentration of 3 nM.
   2. For 5mC analysis: add 196 µL of ultrapure water into a new centrifuge tube and pipet 4 µL of filter solution to the tube (50-fold dilution), due to the high density of 5mC in genomic DNA. Transfer 36 µL of the diluted solution to a new centrifuge tube and add 4 µL of (5'-(methyl-d₃)-2'-deoxycytidine ([D₃]-5mC) with the final concentration of 50 nM. Use [D₃]-5hmC and [D₃]-5mC as the internal standard to calibrate 5hmC and 5mC, respectively.
7. Transfer the sample solution to measuring tubes and store at 4 °C. Analyze 5mC and 5hmC with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry with multiple-reaction monitoring (UHPLC-MS/MS (MRM)) as described in a previous report¹⁵.

6. Analyze 5mC and 5hmC Using UHPLC-MS/MS¹⁵

1. Set up various parameters for analyzing 5mC and 5hmC using the UHPLC-MS software.
   1. Establish a new method. Open the software and click "File | New | Method". Exhibit the message box of "Method Editor" with the content "Do you want to save the changes for the current method" and click "No".
   2. Build the parameters of the sampler. Click "Sampler | Setup | Injection". Select "Standard injection" and input "5 µL at Injection volume".
   3. Build the parameters of the pump in UHPLC.
      1. Click "BinPump2 | Setup" to build the parameters of the pump. Set up "Flow" at "0.25 mL/min" and "Stop time" at "15 min".
      2. Set up "Solvent B at 5%" and "Pressure limits" at "Max 600 bar".
      3. Click "BinPump2 | Timetable" to build the isocratic elution parameters for 5mC analysis. Click "Append" to add a row. Input "0.00" at "Time" and "5.0" at "B%". Click "Append" once more to add a new row. Input "15.00" at "Time" and "5.0" at "B%".
      4. Click "BinPump2 | Timetable" to build the gradient elution parameters for 5hmC analysis. Click "Append to add a row. Input 0.00 at Time and 5.0 at "B%". Click "Append" once more to add a new row. Input "3.00" at "Time" and "5.0" at "B%". Click "Append" for another 6 times to add 6 rows. Input "3.01" at "Time" and "15.0" at "B%", "6.00" at "Time" and "15.0" at "B%", "6.01" at "Time" and "100" at "B%", "10.00" at "Time" and "100.0" at "B%", "10.01" at "Time" and "5.0" at "B%", "15.00" at "Time" and "5.0" at "B%" in sequence.
         NOTE: Perform the analysis of 5mC and 5hmC individually due to the different separation conditions of UHPLC.
   4. Build the parameters of the temperature of the column compartment (TCC) in UHPLC.
      Click "TCC | Setup | temperature (Left)" and input "30 °C".
   5. Establish the parameters of the QQQ-MS/MS.
      1. Click "MS QQQ | Stop time | No limit/As pump", "Ion Source | ESI", "Time filtering | Peak width: 0.07 min". Set up "Time segments: Start time: 0"; "Scan Type: MRM"; "Div Value: To MS"; "Delta EMV (+): 200" and "Delta EMV (-): 0".
      2. Build the parameters of monitoring the transitions of 5mC, D₃-5mC, dC, 5hmC, and D₃-5hmC
         1. Click "MS QQQ | Acquisition | Scan segments: Dwell: 90"; "Fragmentor: 90"; "Collision Energy: 5"; "Cell Accelerator Voltage: 4" and "Polarity: Positive".
         2. Input "5mC" at "Compound Name", "242" at "Precursor Ion", "126" at "Product Ion" for 5mC analysis. Click the right button and select "Add row" to add a new row. Input "D₃-5mC" at "Compound Name", "245" at "Precursor Ion", "129" at "Product Ion" for D₃-5mC analysis.
         3. Supplement another three rows using the same mode. Input "dC" at "Compound Name", "228" at "Precursor Ion", "112" at "Product Ion" for dC analysis. Input "5hmC" at "Compound Name", "258" at "Precursor Ion", "142" at "Product Ion" for 5hmC analysis. Input D₃-5hmC at Compound Name, "261" at "Precursor Ion", "145" at "Product Ion" for D₃-5hmC analysis.
      3. Build the parameters of the gas source. Click "MS QQQ | Source | Source parameters: Gas Temp: 300 °C"; "Gas Flow: 11 L/min"; "Nebulizer: 15 psi"; "Positive-Capillary: 3500 V".
      4. Save the proposed method. Click "MS QQQ | Instrument | Save method As". Select a pathway for the proposed method by "Directory" and give a name for the method by inputting the content in "Method", for example: 5mC and 5hmC analysis.
2. UHPLC separation and MS/MS analysis of mononucleosides
   1. Prepare the mobile phase for 5mC and cytosine (C) analysis: form the mobile phase of solution A and B. Solution A: 500 mL of ultrapure water with 500 µL of formic acid (final concentration: 0.1%), and solution B: 500 mL of 100% methanol. Mix solution A and B at 95:5 (v:v) as the mobile phase to elute 5mC and C (set in step 6.1.3.3). Set the flow rate at 0.25 mL/min (set in step 6.1.3.1).
   2. Prepare the mobile phase by solvent A and B for 5hmC analysis. Solvent A is 2.0 mM NH₄HCO₃ aqueous solution (pH 9.0) (500 mL), and solvent B is 100% methanol (500 mL). Separate 5hmC by an optimized gradient elution: 0-3 min, 5.0% B and 95% A (v:v); 3-6 min, 15.0% B and 85% A; 6-10 min, 100% B; 10-15 min, 5.0% B and 95% A (set in step 6.1.3.4). Set the flow rate at 0.25 mL/min (set in step 6.1.3.1).
3. Utilize electrospray MS/MS with MRM mode (set in step 6.1.5.1) to analyze the elution from the column and adopt the positive ion mode (set in step 6.1.5.2.1).
   1. Monitor the transitions: 5mC, m/z 242→126 (collision energy, 5 eV); [D₃]-5mC, m/z 245→129 (5 eV); dC, m/z 228→112 (5 eV); 5hmC, m/z 258→142 (5 eV); [D₃]-5hmC, m/z 261→145 (5 eV) (set in step 6.1.5.2.2).
   2. Set the capillary and fragment voltages at +3,500 V (set in step 6.1.5.3) and 90 V (set in step 6.1.5.2.1), respectively.
   3. Set the injection volume at 5 µL and analyze each sample 3 times (set in step 6.1.2). Employ the corresponding standard curves to evaluate the amount of 5mC and 5hmC.
      1. Establish the standard curve of 5mC: transfer 1–50 nM (1, 5, 10, 20, 50 nM, final concentration) standard solution of 5mC into centrifuge tubes and add 50 nM [D₃]-5mC to tubes. Supplement the total volume to 50 µL. Perform the analysis of standard 5mC following the instructions for the 5mC sample (step 6).
      2. Build the standard curve of 5hmC: transfer 1–20 nM (1, 2, 5, 10, 20 nM, final concentration) standard solution of 5hmC to centrifuge tubes and add 3 nM [D₃]-5hmC to the tubes. Supplement the total volume to 50 µL. Perform the analysis of standard 5hmC following the instructions for the 5hmC sample (step 6).

7. Analyze the Statistical Significance

1. Perform the statistical analysis using software.
   1. Open the software and select "Column" in "New table & graph". Set the parameters as follows: "Sample data | Start with an empty data table"; "Choose a graph-the first mode"; "Graphing replicates or error bars | Plot | Mean with SEM".
   2. Click "Create" to input the three replicates of Control and Vc/PD0325901-treated group in the "A" and "B" line, respectively. Select the six data and click "Analyze" in the "Analysis".
   3. Select "t tests (and nonparametric tests)" in "Column Analyses" and click "OK" to enter the next interface.
   4. Set the parameters as follows: "Choose test | Test name | Unpaired t test; Options | Two-tailed"; "Confidence Intervals: 95%"; "Significant digits | Show 4 significant digits". Click "OK" to acquire the p value between the Control and Vc/PD0325901 treatment.
2. Evaluate the statistical significance between the control and the experimental groups employing the two-tailed and unpaired Student's t-test¹⁶.
   NOTE: p <0.05 denotes the difference possessing statistical significance. *p <0.05, **p <0.01, ***p <0.001.

Results

Vc/PD0325901 synergistically induced global erasure of mouse ES cells. Mouse ES cells in serum exhibit DNA hypermethylation, while pluripotent ICM cells and PGCs show global erasure of DNA methylation and the hypomethylated state is closely associated with their pluripotency^9,10.

Previously, we and others found that Vc may enhance Tet-mediated 5mC demethylation

Discussion

In the work, we demonstrated a novel method of combining Vc and PD0325901 to sustain mouse ES cells at an undifferentiated and hypomethylated state, which was achieved by a synergistic action of promoting DNA demethylation by Vc and suppressing de novo DNA methylation by PD0325901. Moreover, mouse ES cells showed great morphology under the Vc/PD0325901 culture system.

To better sustain the state of mouse ES cells in the Vc/PD0325901 culture system, there are some critical steps. First...

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
fetal bovine serum Australia source	Corning	35-076-CV	Component of mouse ES cell medium
DMEM/high glucose	Hyclone	SH30022	Component of mouse ES cell medium
LIF	Millipore	ESG1107	Component of mouse ES cell medium
non-essential amino acids (NEAA)	Gibco	11140050	Component of mouse ES cell medium
sodium pyruvate	Gibco	11360070	Component of mouse ES cell medium
L-glutamine	Gibco	25030081	Component of mouse ES cell medium
penicillin streptomycin solution	Gibco	15140122	Component of mouse ES cell medium
PBS	Sigma	P5493	Cells rinse
trypsin	Hyclone	SH30042	Cell dissociation
gelatin	Sigma	48722	Dishes coating
PD0325901	Stemolecule	04-0006-10	small-molecule chemical for cell culture
CHIR99021	Stemolecule	04-0004	small-molecule chemical for cell culture
vitamin C	Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co.,Ltd	XW00508171	small-molecule chemical for cell culture
Ultra Bioscience water purification systemr	Purelab	Ultra	Ultra water
DMSO	Sigma	D8418	Cell freezing medium
centrifuger	Eppendorf	5427R	DNA and protein extraction
protease inhibitor cocktail	Sigma	P8340	Component of RIPA buffer
PMSF Protease Inhibitor	ThermoFisher Scientific	36978	Component of RIPA buffer
DTT	Sigma	43815	Component of RIPA buffer
EGTA	Sigma	E3889	Component of RIPA buffer
Genomic DNA Purification Kit	Promega	A1125	Genomic DNA extraction
NanoDrop 2000	ThermoFisher Scientific	NanoDrop 2000	Determination of DNA concentration
calf intestinal phosphatase	New England Biolabs	M0290	DNA digestion
DNase I	New England Biolabs	M0303	DNA digestion
snake venom phosphodiesterase I	Sigma	P4506	DNA digestion
Nanosep 3K Omega	Pall	OD003C35	filtration of digested DNA
1290 UHPLC system	Agilent	1290	UHPLC separation
G6410B triple quadrupole mass spectrometer	Agilent	G6410B	MS/MS analysis
Zorbax Eclipse Plus C18 column	Agilent	Zorbax Eclipse Plus	colume for UHPLC separation
5-methylcytosine	Solarbio Life Sciences	SM8900	standard 5mC
5-hydroxymethylcytosine (standard)	Toronto Research Chemicals	M295900	standard 5hmC
Prdm14 antibody	bioworld	BS7634	Western blot analysis-primary antibody
Dnmt3a antibody	bioworld	BS6587	Western blot analysis-primary antibody
Dnmt3b antibody	abcam	ab13604	Western blot analysis-primary antibody
Dnmt3l antibody	abcam	ab3493	Western blot analysis-primary antibody
Dnmt1 antibody	abcam	ab13537	Western blot analysis-primary antibody
β-tubulin antibody	bioworld	BS1482MH	Western blot analysis-primary antibody
goat anti-rabbit IgG	abcam	ab6721	Western blot analysis-secondary antibody
goat anti-mouse IgG	abcam	ab6789	Western blot analysis-secondary antibody
Trizol	Invitrogen	15596-026	RNA extraction
reverse transcription system	Promega	A3500	RNA reverse transcription
GoTaq qPCR Master Mix	Promega	A6001	RT-PCR
StemTAG alkaline phosphatase staining and activity assay kit	Cells Biolabs, Inc.	CBA-302	alkaline phosphatase staining analysis
mouse ES cells: WT, 129 SvEv	Provided by Professor Guoliang Xu (Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China)		cell strain of mouse ES cells
microscope	Zeiss	LSM510	cells observation
GraphPad Prism 5.0	GraphPad Prism Software Inc.	5.0	statistical analysis