Analysis of transport proteins in cells differentiated on PET membranes, including activity and Western blot for alkaline phosphatase. A: real-time PCR analysis of mRNA expression in osteoblasts from 6 young (3 males and 3 females) and 6 old (3 males and 3 females) mice differentiated for 2 wk on PET membranes. The statistical significance of data was evaluated with the Student t test. Data are similar to Fig. 1, with less variability in most cases. In one case (ENPP2), a difference is resolved, not seen in bone marrow cells; see text. 1) Alkaline phosphatase; 2) ClC3 chloride/hydrogen exchanger; 3) ANKH pyrophosphate-associated membrane protein mRNA; 4) type I collagen; 5) bone Gla (osteocalcin) mRNA; 6) neutral phosphate transporter-2; 7) ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1; 8. Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 2. B: alkaline phosphatase activity. See Fig. 2A for images. P < 0.01, n = 4. C: Western blots for alkaline phosphatase in young and old cultures. ALP, alkaline phosphatase; ENPP, ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase; PET, polyethylene terephthalate.