Figure 5.

BMP4 Directs hESCs toward Dorsal Neural Progenitor Identities

(A) To assess the acquisition of dorsal progenitor identity, EBs were cultured for 12 days, with BMP4 added at day 6.

(B and C) In the mouse spinal cord (indicated by yellow dotted lines, B and C), the dP1 and dP3-5 domains express Atoh1 (arrowheads, B) and Ascl1 (arrowheads, C), respectively, in the E11.5 mouse embryo. The dP1 cells give rise to Lhx2⁺ dI1s while Isl1⁺ dI3s emerge from the dP3-5 population.

(D and E) BMP4 addition increases ATOH1 levels by >2-fold (D, probability of similarity with RA control, p < 0.038) and ASCL1 levels by >5-fold (E, p < 0.024).

Four biological replicates were performed. Scale bar, 100 μm.