(A) WT7 cells were transfected with each of 4 distinct siRNA duplexes targeting BIMEL (siBIM) or with a control non-targeting siRNA duplex (siNT). Two days later the cells were lysed and the lysates immunoblotted with antibodies against BIM and tubulin. An equal amount of whole cell lysate from untransfected PRC2 cells was immunoblotted for comparison. Virtually identical results were obtained when the experiment was repeated. (B, C) WT7 cells were transfected with siBIM duplexes #1 and #2 or with siNT and 48 h later, transfected cells and untransfected controls were treated with etoposide (50 μM), exposed to UV radiation (1000 J/m2), or left untreated. PRC2 cells were treated in parallel for comparison. Viability was assessed 24 h after addition of etoposide or exposure to UV and is shown relative to untreated control cells as described in figure 1A. Data represent the mean ± SEM from 3 independent experiments (#, p<0.05 compared with PRC2 cells; *, p<0.05 compared with WT7 and WT7-siNT cells).