Additional file 1:

Differentiation induction of MCF-7 cells treated with the DIAs VES or TPA. MCF-7 cells were grown on glass cover slips and treated with increasing amounts of (a) vitamin E succinate (VES) or (b) 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), as indicated, for 72 hours. Fluorescence microscopy (×63) was used to detect. differentiation as assessed by Nile Red staining for lipid vesicles (red). Nuclear DNA was stained with DAPI (blue). (c to e) Cell cycle analysis of MCF-7 cells treated with three differentiation-inducing agents (as indicated) at different doses (also as indicated) for 72 hours. Cells were fixed, stained with propidium iodide and analyzed by flow cytometry. The percentage of cells in each cell cycle phase was determined using ModFit.

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Additional file 2:

The effect of MYB knockdown on differentiation in MCF-7 cells. (a). MCF-7 cells stably transduced with a doxycycline (Dox)-inducible lentiviral siRNA, were grown with or without Dox for 72 hours. The cells were then stained for lipid droplet (Nile Red - Red) or nuclear DNA (DAPI - blue), and evaluated by fluorescent microscopy (×63) or (b) Flow cytometry; data for control cell lines are also shown. (c) Quantitative PCR analysis of ß-casein mRNA levels following Dox treatment. Data are normalised against untreated cells.

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Additional file 3:

The effect of MYB knockdown on differentiation in ZR-75-1 cells. (a) ZR-75-1 cells stably transduced with a doxycycline (Dox)-inducible lentiviral siRNA, were grown with or without Dox for 72 hours. The cells were then stained for lipid droplet (Nile Red - Red) or nuclear DNA (DAPI - blue), and evaluated by fluorescent microscopy (×63) or (b) Flow cytometry; data for control cell lines are also shown. (c) Quantitative PCR analysis of ß-casein mRNA levels following Dox treatment. Data are normalised against untreated cells.

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Additional file 4:

MYB knockdown sensitises ZR-75-1 cells to the differentiation-inducing agent NaBu. (a) ZR-75-1 cells with a doxycycline (Dox)-inducible shRNA targeting MYB [19] were grown on a glass coverslip, treated with or without 5 μg/mL Dox for 24 hours before exposure to the indicated concentrations of sodium butyrate (NaBu) for three days. They were then stained with Nile Red (red) for lipid vesicles and DAPI (blue) for DNA detection. (b) Flow cytometric analysis of TUNEL staining for apoptotic cells. ZR-75-1 cells stably transfected with inducible shRNA treated for 24 hours with or without Dox, were grown in the presence or absence of 1 mM NaBu for a further 24 hours, and were then assayed for apoptosis using TUNEL. Standard deviation is represented by error bars.

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