Figure 11.

N-cadherin knockdown limits branching in 3D collagen gel culture. (A) 3D collagen gel cultures were performed using mock transfected, N-cadherin knockdown, and N-cadherin–overexpressing NMuMG/E10 cells. (B) 3D collagen gel cultures were performed using NMuMG/E10 cells in the presence of LY294002 (10 μM) or SP600125 (10 μM), or using NMuMG/E10 cells expressing Rac1N17. (C) Quantification of branching was performed by counting all identifiable branch points in each colony. For the experiments using inhibitors, LY294002 (10 μM) or SP600125 (10 μM) was added to the culture medium above the collagen gel. The columns represent mean values, and the bars represent the SD (p < 0.05; 1 versus 2 or 3, 1 versus 4, p < 0.05; 1 versus 5, p = 0.11; 1 versus 6, p = 0.06).