Apoptosis of HT-29 cells transduced with PSMA7 siRNA and RAN siRNA. A) Hoechst staining of cells 72 hours after the transfection of siRNA. Scale bar, 100 μm. The arrows indicate cells with nuclear condensation and fragmentation. B) Numbers of apoptotic cells from (A). The data show the percentage of apoptotic cells. As a control, nontargeting control siRNA was used (n = 4 per group, *P < 0.01). C) Phase contrast micrograph of HT-29 cells 72 hours after the treatment of siRNA. Scale bar, 200 μm. D) Knockdown of mRNA by PSMA7 siRNA pool and RAN siRNA pool using cell transfection array was measured 72 hours after transfection. (n = 5 per group, *P < 0.001). E) Knockdown of mRNA by PSMA7 siRNAs and RAN siRNAs. Expression of PSMA7 mRNA and RAN mRNA was measured 72 hours and 48 hours after transfection, respectively (n = 3 per group, *P < 0.01). As a control, nontargeting siRNA was used. Values are mean ± SD.
Abbreviations: PSMA7, proteasome subunit, α-type, 7; RAN, ras-related nuclear protein; SD, standard deviation; siRNA, small interfering RNAs.