Transcriptomic characterization of circadian clock gene-mutated human pluripotent stem cell lines

To explore the non-canonical functions of core clock proteins in ESCs, we generated CRISPR/Cas9-edited isogenic human ESC lines carrying targeted truncations of CLOCK, BMAL1, NR1D1, and/or NR1D2. Comprehensive characterization and transcriptomic analyses demonstrated changes in gene expression associated with pluripotency and differentiation, despite the absence of rhythmic activity.