FIG. 7.

Loss of ZPR1 results in death of differentiated NSC-34 cells. (A) Low levels of ZPR1 causes caspase activation and death of differentiated NSC-34 cells that resemble motor neurons. Cells transfected with scrambled siRNA (Control) and ZPR1-specific siRNA (siRNA) were cultured for 72 h and labeled with FITC-VAD-fmk. Motor neurons stained with antibodies to ZPR1 (red) and activated caspase (green) were examined by confocal laser-scanning microscopy. Scale bar, 20 μm. (B) Inhibition of death of motor neurons that lack ZPR1 by zVAD. Cells were left untreated (−zVAD) or treated (+zVAD) with zVAD (10 μM) during transfection with scrambled siRNA (Control) and ZPR1-specific siRNA (siRNA). Samples were stained with antibodies to ZPR1 and examined by confocal laser-scanning microscopy. Nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue). Scale bar, 40 μm.