Figure 4.
Overexpression of beclin 1 from the lentivirus reduces levels of α-syn and restores neurite outgrowth. B103 neuronal cells were infected with LV-α-syn alone or in combination with LV-Beclin 1 and analyzed by immunoblot, PCR, and confocal analysis. A, Total protein was extracted and examined by Western blot for α-syn, phosphorylated (Ser129) α-syn, and beclin 1. B, Analysis of levels of α-syn immunoreactivity. C, Total RNA was extracted and examined by real-time PCR for expression of α-syn mRNA. D–G, Neuronal cells were infected with LV-α-syn alone or in combination with LV-Beclin 1 and double labeled with antibodies against α-syn (red) and tubulin III (green). H, I, Analysis of the levels of α-syn and tubulin III immunoreactivity from digital images acquired by confocal microscopy. J, Computer-aided image analysis of neurite length. Scale bar, 10 μm. *Statistical significance (p < 0.05, 1-way ANOVA, post hoc Fisher test).