Figure 4
From: The aspartic protease napsin A suppresses tumor growth independent of its catalytic activity
Cyst and branch formation by napsin A-expressing cells. HEK293 cells expressing napsin A and vector-transfected cells were grown in three-dimensional collagen gels for 14 days. (a, b) Effect of napsin A on cell morphology. (a) Phase-contrast photographs of HEK293 cells in collagen gels. Note that napsin A-expressing cells formed a tube-like structure with branching morphology whereas control cells did not. (b) HEK293 cells in collagen gels visualized by fluorescence microscopy. Cell nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue) and cytoplasms were visualized by immunostaining for LAMP-1. (c) Staining of napsin A in cells forming cysts. HEK293 cells in collagen gels were visualized by fluorescence microscopy. Cell nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue) and napsin A was visualized by immunostaining (red). Napsin A was expressed within the central portions of the cysts.
