Fig. 2.

Increased MeCP2 dosage does not affect Tcf4 expression in mice.

(A) Breeding scheme to genetically introduce the MECP2 transgene (MECP2^Tg1/o) into Tcf4^+/− animals. MeCP2 mRNA (B) and protein levels (C-D) were quantified in the cortex, hippocampus and striatum of wildtype (Tcf4^+/+, black), MECP2^Tg1/o (blue), Tcf4^+/− (green), and MECP2^Tg1/o; Tcf4^+/− (pink) P120 mice. (B) qPCR with values normalized to corresponding wild type controls. MeCP2 mRNA expression was significantly increased in the presence of the Tg1 transgene and was not affected by Tcf4 heterozygosity. (C) Representative images of fluorescent Western blot for MeCP2/Mecp2 (72 ​kDa, red arrow) and Gapdh (35 ​kDa, black arrow). (D) MeCP2 protein (72 ​kDa band) levels were normalized to Gapdh (35 ​kDa band) and then normalized against the corresponding wildtype controls. MeCP2 protein levels were elevated in MECP2^Tg1/o and MECP2^Tg1/o; Tcf4^+/− mice. (E) Tcf4 mRNA expression is decreased in the brains of Tcf4^+/− and MECP2^Tg1/o; Tcf4^+/− mice, but is unaffected by the Tg1 transgene. mRNA: n ​= ​5–6 mice per genotype. Protein: n ​= ​9–10 mice per genotype. 1-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-hoc test within each brain region. ∗p ​< ​0.05, ∗∗p ​< ​0.01, ∗∗∗p ​< ​0.001, ∗∗∗∗p ​< ​0.0001. Open circle/black bars ​= ​Tcf4^+/+, blue squares/bars ​= ​MECP2^Tg1/o, green triangles/bars ​= ​Tcf4^+/−, pink diamonds/bars ​= ​MECP2^Tg1/o; Tcf4^+/−.