Figure 9

Knockdown of birc5a and birc5b maintains neural progenitor cells in a proliferating stage and blocks maturation. (a–c) Lateral views of nes expression in WT (a), birc5a ATG-MO (b) and birc5b ATG-MO (c) 48 h.p.f. embryos. (d–f) Lateral views of pcna expression in WT (d), birc5a ATG-MO (e) and birc5b ATG-MO (f) 48 h.p.f. embryos. (g–i) Immunofluorescent staining of PCNA (in red) in transverse brain sections of WT (g), birc5a ATG-MO (h) and birc5b ATG-MO (i) 48 h.p.f. embryos. Nuclei are labeled by DAPI staining (blue). The high levels of nes and pcna expression following treatment with birc5a and birc5b MOs indicate that the NPCs are proliferating and not terminally differentiated. (j–o) Lateral views of cdkn1b (j–l) and cdkn1c (m–o) expression in WT (j and m), birc5a ATG-MO (k and n) and birc5b ATG-MO (l and o) 48 h.p.f. embryos. (p–r) Lateral views of ccnd1 expression in WT (p), birc5a ATG-MO (q) and birc5b ATG-MO (r) 48 h.p.f. embryos. The reduction in cdkn1b and cdkn1c expression and increase in ccnd1 expression in the CNS following treatment with birc5a and birc5b MOs suggest that the NPCs failed to exit from the cell cycle