Gene-expression analysis during ASCL-MK differentiation. (A) Expression levels of genes in relation to MK differentiation, as assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. The ASCL was cultured in MKLI media, and the RNA samples were prepared from the cells on days 0, 2, 4, and 6. (B) Number of genes with twofold expression changes in ASCL-MKs compared with CD34⁺ CB-MKs. (C) Heat map of microarray data showing relative expression of the indicated genes in ASCL-MKs and CD34⁺CB-MKs. MSC genes were found to be enriched in ASCL-MKs compared with CD34⁺CB-MKs. Both samples were prepared from the cells on day 8. (D) Top 10 enriched gene-ontology biological processes for ASCL-MKs compared with CD34⁺CB-MKs. (E) Gene-set enrichment analysis plots showing enrichment for MSC genes (supplemental Figure 5) and cell adhesion genes (gene set name: KEGG_CELL_ADHESION_MOLECULES_CAMS) in ASCL-MKs and CD34⁺CB-MKs.