Extended Data Fig. 1: Clonality and growth rate dynamics during maturation of the growth plate.

a–d, Clonal pattern in Col2-creERT:R26R-Confetti mice traced from P30 to P40 (a; the humerus is shown, all other images throughout the manuscript show tibial growth plates), from E14.5 to P4 (b), from P3 to P18 (c) and from P30 to P44 (d). Arrowheads in a and b show typical clones. e, Col2-creERT:R26R-Confetti mice received tamoxifen at either 3 or 30 days of age and were traced simultaneously for 4, 9 or 14 days. Clone size was quantified using Imaris. n = 3 mice per age per time point; mean ± s.e.m.; one-way ANOVA with Tukey multiple comparisons. f, Chondrocyte proliferation rate (single EdU injection, 24 h before analysis) was quantified at different ages. Data are mean ± s.e.m.; n = 3 mice per age. g, The rate of bone formation under the growth plate of proximal tibia or distal femur was assessed by xylenol pulse-chase bone labelling. n = 2–4 mice per time point; mean ± s.e.m. h, Representative histological images (haemotoxylin and eosin staining) of the proximal tibial growth plate before (P3, left), during (P10, middle) and after (P30, right) SOC formation. Blue dashed lines demarcate borders between the resting, proliferating and hypertrophic zones. The junction between SOC and the resting zone is magnified in inserts. i, Col2-creERT:R26R-Confetti mice traced from P30 to 6 months of age. Arrowheads indicate stable clones and the arrow indicates a labelled resting-zone cell, which did not form a column during the tracing period. j, Col2-creERT:R26R-Confetti mice traced from E14.5 to P70. The black or white dashed lines demarcate the growth plate from the surrounding tissues. Data in a–d and j represent two independent experiments or litters, data in e–h represent one experiment per time point (with the number of mice per data point indicated above), whereas data in i represent 3 independent experiments or litters.

Source data