FIGURE 7.

Contribution of SMAD4-dependent pathways to gene expression in ameloblasts. A, ALC line was infected with lentivirues expressing control or murine Smad4 shRNA. After puromycin selection, SMAD4 levels were determined by immunoblotting (IB) analysis. B and C, Smad4-sufficent or -deficient ALC line was transfected with p21-luc reporter gene and Renilla, and 24 h after transfection, cells were treated with BMP2/7 for 24 h. p21 luciferase activity was normalized to Renilla (B). Alternatively, total RNAs were isolated, and the effect on gene expression was determined by RT-PCR (C). ** indicates p < 0.01; * indicates p < 0.05 by a two-tailed Student's t test; NS indicates p > 0.05.