A human H1-HBB11-GFP reporter embryonic stem cell line (WAe001-A-2) generated using TALEN-based genome editing

Hemoglobin production during mammalian development is characterized by temporal switches of the genes coding for the α- and β-globin chains. Defects in this controlled process can lead to hemoglobinapathies such as sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia. The ability of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) to proceed through hematopoiesis could provide a clinically useful source of red blood cells. However, hESC-derived red cells exhibit an embryonic/fetal, but not adult, mode of hemoglobin expression. The resource described here is a hESC line engineered to express a reporter from its adult globin promoter, providing a screening platform for small molecules that lead to efficient induction of adult globin.