YAP localization in cells. (a and b) Fluorescence images showing YAP localization in 3T6 cells on r = 120 μm patterns indicates the presence of compressive stresses. In +1 defects, YAP is mostly localized in cytoplasm (a), while in −1 defects it is localized in nuclei (b). The ratio of nuclear to cytoplasmic YAP is shown in panel (c) for 3T6 cells near +1 defects, near −1 defects and far from defects. (d and e) Fluorescence images showing YAP localization in EpH-4 cells on r =60 μm patterns near +1 defects, where it is localized in nuclei (d), and −1 defects, where it is more evenly distributed (e). The ratio of nuclear to cytoplasmic YAP is shown in panel (f) for EpH-4 cells near +1 defects, near −1 defects, and far from defects. Insets indicate the type of defect in the corresponding images. For each defect, at least n = 4 samples were included in analysis; error bars represent standard deviation; *** indicates p-value < 0.0001, n.s. is for “not significant”.