Figure 6

Smac plays an important role in SapC-DOPS-induced apoptosis. A) SK-N-SH cell viability assessed by MTT assay after treatment with 50 nM control scrambled shRNA (empty bars) or 50 nM Smac shRNA (filled bars) and subsequent SapC-DOPS treatment B) Evaluation of ΔΨM by JC-1 assay in Smac-knockdown SK-N-SH cells following 50 μM SapC-DOPS treatment for 24 h. Pos CTL refers to treatment with 50 μM 2-[2-(3-Chlorophenyl)hydrazinylyidene]propanedinitrile (CCCP). C) Redistribution of apoptogenic proteins following 50 μM SapC-DOPS treatment for 24 h in Smac-knockdown SK-N-SH cells. (D) Caspase-3 activation in SapC-DOPS (50 μM) treated Smac-knockdown SK-N-SH cells. Densitometry graph shows relative changes in cleaved caspase-3 fragment expression normalized to β-Actin. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.001. Points, mean of three to five experiments; bars, SE. Western blots are representative of three independent experiments.