Figure 13. Expression of selected transcription factors in G-2 cells.

(A) Hierarchical cluster analysis of microarray gene expression data. 73 genes coding for transcription factors (Table S1) were selected to generate a heat map. Gene expression log2-ratios are displayed with gene expression intensities of the mammary gland of a parous BALB/c mouse (50 days post weaning; Inv50pw) serving as reference. The relative expression values are color coded: red – high expression, blue – low. (B–D) Relative quantitation of gene expression by real-time qPCR in CD24a^high/CD49f^high and CD24a^low/CD49f^low (B), Thy1^high and Thy1^low (C) G-2 cell subsets, and G-2 cells transfected with Sox10 or control siRNA (D), respectively. Each assay was done in triplicate, and raw RQ values were calculated by normalizing to the Gapdh gene. (E) siRNA-mediated Sox10 depletion increases the number of Thy1-expressing cells. G-2 and G-2C10 cells were transfected with Sox10 or control siRNA and were analyzed for Thy1 expression by FACS after 5 days culture. A representative analysis is shown.