Fig. 7.

TAZ4SA expression is sufficient to enhance traction forces on both compliant and rigid matrices. Traction force microscopy was used to assay fibroblast contractile function on matrices of defined stiffness. Control and TAZ4SA-transduced fibroblasts were grown on polyacrylamide hydrogels of highly compliant (1 kPa, A) or relatively rigid (75 kPa, B) Young’s modulus and exposed to 0 or 100 ng/ml doxycycline. Individual cells were analyzed and the root mean square traction (RMST) was computed, with results displayed as a single data point on the plot representing each cell. Data shown are from n = 10–16 cells per condition, with bars showing population mean ± SE *P < 0.05, one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni multiple comparisons test between absence and presence of doxycycline.