Fig. 4

Conditional genetic ablation of Ilk from OPCAs. a ILK is a focal contact protein that links ECM-bound integrin receptors to the actin cytoskeleton via its partner parvin. In the depiction, α₆β₁ and α_vβ₃ integrin receptors reside at the leading edge of a migrating OPC’s process, where they respectively bind laminin (Ln) and fibronectin (Fn). At the β-integrin cytosolic tails, ILK stabilizes ECM adhesions to the actin cytoskeleton (red circles) by acting as a scaffold. b Schematic representation of the mouse Ilk ^fl/fl locus, where Cre recombination excises exons 5–12 of the Ilk gene [15]. c Schematic representation of the mT/mG reporter locus [16]. Cre-recombination at the LoxP sites excises tdTomato and induces EGFP expression. d Western blot showing TAT-Cre reduces ILK protein when administered to Ilk ^fl/fl ;mT/mG cultures. Significant difference confirmed by densitometric analysis. e OPCAs isolated from TAT-Cre treated Ilk ^fl/fl ;mT/mG cultures, showing they are composed of both recombined (EGFP-positive) and non-recombined (tdTomato-positive) OPCs. Presumably, ILK is depleted from OPCs expressing EGFP. For d, data represent the mean ± SEM (n = 3), *p < 0.05 (Student’s t test). Scale bar, 50 μm