This protocol describes a method for freezing and thawing ES cells using cryovials. It is important to freeze ES cell stocks as soon as possible to reduce the time that they are in culture. A careful record should be kept of the number of times cells are passaged and the location of the cryovials. - [Read Freezing and Thawing of Embryonic Stem (ES) Cells Using Cryovials Protocol]
This protocol describes a rapid PCR-based method for identifying targeted ES cell colonies prior to picking. It is based on DNA analysis of a small part of colonies pooled directly from selection plates. Only positive colonies are expanded. - [Read Genotyping Embryonic Stem (ES) Cell Colonies Prior to Picking Protocol]
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are pluripotent cells capable of differentiation to representatives of all three germ layers. Includes: Isolation of Primary Mouse Embryo Fibroblasts; Thawing and preparing p1 MEF feeder plates; Preparation of MEF- Conditioned Medium (MEF-CM; Microdissection Passaging of hESCs; Bulk passaging of hESC; Cryopreservation of hESCs; Thawing of hESCs; Karyotyping. - [Read Human Embryonic Stem Cell Protocols]
This protocol describes a method for injecting mouse blastocysts with embryonic stem (ES) cells to produce chimeras. - [Read Injecting Blastocysts Protocol]
This protocol describes the isolation of fibroblasts from mouse embryos. Mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells are used as a feeder layer for the culture of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells to help maintain them as pluripotent stem cells. The inhibition of ES-cell differentiation provided by the MEF feeders appears to be due to their production of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). - [Read Isolation and Freezing of Primary Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts (MEF) For Feeder Plates]
Preparation of primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts, Preparation of mitotically inactive mouse embryo fibroblasts, Irradiation of the MEFs. Nederlands Kanker Instituut Teriele. - [Read MOUSE EMBRYONIC FIBROBLASTS PDF]
Great Procedures. rules for ES cell culture, differentiation of ES cells, ES medium, Thawing, Passaging, Freezing. Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell culture - basic procedures. Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics. Boris Greber. - [Read Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell culture - basic procedures PDF]
This protocol describes passage of ES cells. They should be split at 1:3 to 1:7 every 2-3 days depending on their growth rate when they reach 70% confluency. They should never be allowed to grow past 90% confluency, but rather they should form tightly packed colonies not touching each other. - [Read Passage of Embryonic Stem (ES) Cells Protocol]
MEF feeders are prepared weekly to provide a substrate for undifferentiated embryonic stem (ES) cells. Primary MEF cells are thawed, established in culture, treated with mitomycin C to halt their proliferation so they cannot overgrow the ES cultures, and then replated onto dishes convenient for ES cell culture. This protocol can also be used to prepare feeder cells from STO fibroblast cell lines. - [Read Preparation of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast (MEF) Feeder Plates Protocol]
This protocol a protocol on how to generate transfected embryonic stem (ES) cell clones. The previous protocol in this series is the Protocol for Electroporation of ES cells. The next protocol in the series is the Protocol on Disaggregation, Expansion, and Freezing of Transfected ES Clones.
The protocol gives general considerations for the design of targeting vectors for transgenic mice. The protocol shares tips in the design of knock-out and knock-in vectors and some of their strategies for producing homologously recombined embryonic stem cells.