Figure 1From: Proteomic assessment of a cell model of spinal muscular atrophyDifferentiation of murine ES cells into motor neurons. The scheme outlines the process of motor neuron differentiation from ES cells (A). Murine ES cells (HBG3) were expanded on a layer of primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Undifferentiated stem cells form round clusters (arrows) as they proliferate on top of a feeding fibroblast layer, and they have weak GFP expression (B-B'). Stem cells were separated from the fibroblast layer and plated in low attachment dishes to allow for differentiation. Two-day-old stem cell aggregates (called embryoid bodies, EB, arrows) were induced to differentiate with 1 μM retinoic acid and 1 μM sonic hedgehog agonist SAG for 5 days. Differentiated ES cells have strong GFP expression (C-C'). When plated on poly-DL-ornithine/laminin/matrigel coated plates, the differentiated ES cells extend long neurites after 2 days in culture (D-D'). Representative phase contrast images for 1B-1D are shown on the top and corresponding fluorescent images are on the bottom. Scale bar = 200 μm except as indicated. MN = motor neuron.Back to article page