Embryonic Stem Cells Lacking DNA Methyltransferases Differentiate into Neural Stem Cells That Are Defective in Self-Renewal

Scientists investigated the role of DNA methyltransferases (Dnmt) in neural differentiation of ESCs and in maintenance of the resulting neural stem cells. They used three types of Dnmt knockout (KO) ESCs, including Dnmt1 KO, Dnmt3a/3b double KO, and Dnmt1/3a/3b triple KO.