Fig. 4: TAZ regulates chemoresistance and cancer stemness in vitro.

MCF-7 and BT-474 cells were cultured on soft or stiff supports for 2 weeks before subsequent analysis. In some experiments, cells were pre-transduced with TAZ shRNA (shTAZ-1 or shTAZ-2) or GFP shRNA (shGFP). a The expression of TAZ in MCF-7 and BT-474 cells cultured on soft or stiff supports was determined by western blot (n = 3 biologically independent experiments). b Representative immunofluorescence staining of TAZ in MCF-7 and BT-474 cells cultured on soft or stiff substrates. The insert represents a magnification from the indicated area (white square). Scale bars, 10 μm. c Proportion of cancer cells exhibiting mainly nuclear TAZ localization (N > C), diffuse distribution of TAZ in nucleus and cytoplasm (N = C), or preferential cytoplasmic TAZ (N < C or undetectable). 20 cells were assessed per group, experiments were independently repeated 4 times. Mean ± SD, ****p < 0.0001 by two-tailed chi-square test. d Docetaxel induced apoptosis of MCF-7 and BT-474 was assessed by flow cytometry. See Supplementary Fig. 3a for quantification. e MCF-7 and BT-474 cells cultured on soft or stiff supports were treated with docetaxel or cisplatin. Cell viability was evaluated by CCK8 assay (n = 5 biologically independent experiments). Mean ± SD, ****p < 0.0001 by two-sided one-way ANOVA with Tukey test. f Representative images of CD44^highCD24^low cells in MCF-7 and BT-474 cells were detected by flow cytometry. See Supplementary Fig. 3b for quantification. g Western blots of TAZ, SOX2, and OCT4 in MCF-7 and BT-474 cells cultured on soft or stiff supports (n = 3 biologically independent experiments). For data presented in the same figure panel, the samples were derived from the same experiment and blots were processed in parallel. For a, c, e and g, source data are provided as a Source Data file.