EXPERIMENTAL FIGURE 4-5 MDCK cells can form cysts in culture. (a) MDCK cells grown on a supported extracellular matrix will form groups of cells that polarize to form a tubular single layer of cells with a lumen in the middle, called a cyst. (b) By examining the localization of proteins found in the apical (red) and basolateral membranes (green), we can see that these cells are fully polarized, with the apical side facing the lumen, which recapitulates their organization in the kidney tubules from which they are derived. The nuclear DNA is stained blue.

[Institute of Cancer Sciences/CRUK Beatson Institute, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road.]