Figure 1.

Downregulation of Fau inhibits UV-induced apoptosis of T-47D breast cancer cells. T-47D cells were transfected with one of two different siRNAs to Fau or with a negative control (NC) (Ambion code 4611) siRNA using RNAiFect (Qiagen). After 120 hours samples were collected for real-time RT-PCR analysis, and trypsinized cells were either exposed to UV light (40 J/m²; closed bars) or were mock-irradiated (open bars), and then replated in fresh medium. (a) Real-time RT-PCR analysis of Fau transcript levels. Data, expressed relative to the house-keeping gene ALAS1, are the mean ± standard error of the mean. *P < 0.05 versus NC siRNA (one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni's multiple comparison test); n = 3. (b) The proportion of apoptotic cells was determined 48 hours post UV exposure by acridine orange staining and fluorescence microscopy. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 versus NC siRNA (UV-irradiated; one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni's multiple comparison test); n = 3. (c) Short-term cell viability was determined 48 hours post UV exposure by dye exclusion. *P < 0.01 versus NC siRNA (UV-irradiated; one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni's multiple comparison test); n = 3. (d) Long-term cell viability after UV irradiation was determined in further cultures by measuring colony formation; colonies were counted 3 weeks post UV exposure. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 versus NC siRNA (UV-irradiated; one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni's multiple comparison test); n = 4.