Fig. 4. Expression of BMP receptors in A431 cells. (A) A431 cells upregulate BRII mRNA expression upon serum starvation. RNA was prepared from starved and nonstarved A431 cells and reverse transcribed. Using specific primer combinations for amplification of BRIa (primer BRIa-9 and BRIa-15) or BRII (primer BRII-15 and BRII-25) by PCR the presence of the receptors in the cells was tested. A431 cells express the mRNA for BRIa in both starved and nonstarved conditions, whereas BRII mRNA is upregulated in starved cells. (B,C) Serum starvation of A431 cells leads to upregulation of BRII at the cell surface. Normal (B) or serum starved A431 cells (C) were fixed and fluorescently labelled for the expression of BRII using a polyclonal antiserum against BRII and a secondary donkey anti-goat RRX antibody. Cells were fixed and images collected using a confocal microscope. (D) Normal A431 cells were fixed and fluorescently labelled for BRIa using a polyclonal antibody against BRIa followed by RRX-conjugated secondary antibody. (E) Serum starved A431 cells were fixed and fluorescently labelled for BRIa using a polyclonal antibody against BRIa followed by RRX-conjugated secondary antibody.

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