Fig. 6.

Depletion of NMIIA, not NMIIB, causes loss of cytoskeletal coherence. Cells were transfected with siRNAs for ~96 hours and then spread for ~20-30 minutes on fibronectin-coated coverslips. After fixation, cells were tripled stained for NMIIA or NMIIB, F-actin and paxillin. Colors are pseudo-colors. (A) Control siRNA cells have prominent circumferential actin bundles, stress fibers and focal adhesions, which are not present in NMIIA siRNA cells. A large fraction of NMIIA siRNA cells exhibit ‘C’ shapes, dendritic shapes or have gaps in the actin cytoskeleton. Inset is DIC image of the cell with cytoskeleton gap. (B) siRNA NMIIB causes no changes in actin cytoskeleton and focal adhesion. Scale bars: 20 μm.