Fig. 1: Targeted deletion of the Mast4 gene enhances cartilage matrix gene expression and reduces osteogenic gene expression in vitro.
From: Mast4 determines the cell fate of MSCs for bone and cartilage development

a Representative RT-PCR result, obtained from at least three independent experiments, of high-density micromass culture of C3H10T1/2 cells in the presence of BMP-2. b Representative qRT-PCR result of the expression of chondrocyte marker genes in the differentiating wild-type and Mast4-depleted C3H10T1/2 cells. Mast4 protein expression was confirmed by western blot during chondrogenic differentiation. c Heatmap of DEGs, classified under cartilage/chondrocyte development and osteogenesis, of chondrogenic differentiated wild-type and Mast4-depleted C3H10T1/2 cells for 6 days. d Representative qRT-PCR result of Sox9-targeted genes and Mmp9/13, which were identified by RNA sequencing, in wild-type and Mast4-depleted C3H10T1/2 cells differentiated to chondrocytes for 6 days. e Representative qRT-PCR result of osteoblast marker genes and the genes related to osteogenesis, which were identified in c, in wild-type and Mast4-depleted C3H10T1/2 cells differentiated to osteoblasts for 10 days. f Transcriptional network of the DEGs related to cartilage and chondrocyte development, TGF-β signaling, and BMP signaling in the wild-type and Mast4-depleted C3H10T1/2 cells differentiated to chondrocytes for 6 days. The node size was set on the basis of connectivity of the nodes. Red-colored circles indicate genes showing differential expression in Mast4-depleted C3H10T1/2 cells. b, d and e Data are representative mean ± SD of three independent experiments, each conducted in triplicate (n = 3). Unpaired two-tailed Student’s t test (P < 0.05) with Benjamini-Hochberg correction for multiple tests was conducted for all statistical analyses. P values versus WT at corresponding day; n.s. not significant. Uncropped blots in a, b are shown in Source Data file. Source data for b, d and e are provided as a Source Data file.