Generation of a SOX2 reporter human induced pluripotent stem cell line using CRISPR/SaCas9.

SOX2 is an important transcription factor involved in pluripotency maintenance, pluripotent reprogramming and differentiation towards neural lineages. Here we engineered the previously described HEL24.3 hiPSC to generate a SOX2 reporter by knocking-in a T2A fused nuclear tdTomato reporter cassette before the STOP codon of the SOX2 gene coding sequence. CRISPR/SaCas9-mediated stimulation of homologous recombination was utilized to facilitate faithful targeted insertion. This line accurately reports the expression of endogenous SOX2 and therefore constitutes a useful tool to study the SOX2 expression dynamics upon hiPSC culture, differentiation and somatic cell reprogramming.

Generation of an OCT4 reporter human induced pluripotent stem cell line using CRISPR/SpCas9.

OCT4 is a crucial transcription factor in the pluripotent stem cell gene regulatory network and an essential factor for pluripotent reprogramming. We engineered the previously reported HEL24.3 hiPSC to generate an OCT4 reporter cell line by knocking-in a T2A nuclear EmGFP reporter cassette before the OCT4 gene STOP codon sequence. To enhance targeted insertion, homologous recombination was stimulated using targeted cutting at the OCT4 STOP codon with CRISPR/SpCas9. This HEL24.3-OCT4-nEmGFP cell line faithfully reports endogenous OCT4 expression, serving as a useful tool to examine temporal changes in OCT4 expression in live cells during hiPSC culture, differentiation and somatic cell reprogramming.