Figure 1

Effects of BMP-2 and the ERK inhibitor, UO126, on the Col X promoter and alkaline phosphatase activity in chick cephalic sternal chondrocytes. A: Activity of the b2/640 type X collagen promoter; 24 hrs after seeding cells were transfected with PGLb2/640 and pRLnull luciferase vectors, 5 hrs after transfection 4 μM U0126 or vehicle (DMSO) was added. BMP-2 was added to selected wells after a further hour. Values are mean ± S.D of the mean ratio of promoter to empty vector fluorescence units, for 6 experiments assayed in triplicate. B: Alkaline phosphatase activity; 24 hrs after seeding, medium was changed and 4 μM U0126 or vehicle was added. BMP-2 was added to selected wells after a further hour. Cell extracts were prepared 72 hrs later. Data was obtained using 5 different isolates of chondrocytes assayed in triplicate. Values are mean ± SEM of 12–15 samples normalized to within experiment controls treated with BMP-2 but no inducers, *:p < 0.01 group differs from non BMP-2 treated group within inhibitor treatment, +: p < 0.05 that group differs from group with no UO126.