Figure 7.

Within patient comparison of gene expression in fused, fusing, and unfused sutures. Gene expression was analysed in five suture samples from an Apert syndrome patient (#90) by qRT-PCR. A gradient of expression is seen for all genes from unfused sagittal (US), to unfused metopic (UM), early fusing coronal (FgEC), late fusing coronal (FgLC), and fused coronal (FC) sutures. ANXA3 and CYFIP2 are increased highest in fused sutures, WIF1 in fusing sutures and all other genes have highest expression in unfused sagittal sutures. Unfused Metopic sutures show higher expression of genes increased during fusion and a lower expression of genes increased in other unfused sutures. Absolute expression values represent molecules per ng cDNA. Error bars represent SEM for triplicate technical replicates.