Figure 4.
The TAZ–TEAD interaction mediates MES differentiation in murine NSCs. (A) NSCs were isolated from E14 mouse brains and transduced with vector, wild-type, or mutant TAZ, and stable pools were generated using puromycin. (Top panel) Phase-contrast images of neurospheres of corresponding NSC stable pools. (Middle panel) Phase-contrast images of NSCs after 1 d of differentiation in mitogen-free medium. (Bottom panel) Dissociated NSC clones were stained for NSC marker nestin (red), and the nuclei were stained with Hoeschst dye. Bars, 100 μm. (B) Differentiation of TAZ-overexpressing NSCs in 5% serum-containing medium. The top panel shows dual staining for GFAP (green) and FN1 (red). The bottom panel shows SMA (green) staining in these clones. Bars, 100 μm. (C) Quantification of expression of various markers in NSCs. For each experiment, FN1-, GFAP-, or SMA-positive cells were counted in 10 randomized microscopic fields. Bars indicate the mean value (±SD) for at least two to three independent experiments. A t-test was used to assess statistical significance. (*) P < 0.05; (**) P < 0.005; (NS) not significant.