FIG. 3.

The role of p53 in HR-HPV16 E2-induced apoptosis. (A) HeLa cells were transiently cotransfected with an mdm2-luciferase reporter plasmid and E2 expression vectors. Luciferase activity was normalized for transfection efficiency using a cotransfected plasmid expressing Renilla luciferase. The data are presented as promoter activity relative to the mdm2-luciferase reporter alone and are means and standard deviations of results from four independent experiments. (B) Saos-2 cells were transiently cotransfected with the mdm2-luciferase reporter plasmid, the p53 expression vector pCB6-p53 and E2 expression vectors. Luciferase activity was normalized for transfection efficiency as described above, and results are means and standard deviations of results from four independent experiments. (C) Saos-2 cells were transiently transfected with plasmids expressing GFP, HR-HPV16 E2, and a panel of p53 proteins. Apoptotic cells were identified as described previously. The transfection was performed in duplicate and repeated three times. The data are means and standard deviations.