Silencing of Mule specifically inhibits TNFα-induced JNK activation. (A and C) WT fibroblasts (A, Left, and C) and Miz1 null MEFs (A, Right) were transfected with control siRNA or siRNA for Mule (100 nM each) and treated with or without TNFα (5 ng/mL, 15 min). Phosphorylation of JNK1 (A), p38 and ERK (C), and expression levels of Mule, JNK1, p38, and ERK were determined. (B) U2OS/shMule stable cells were treated with tetracycline (2 μg/mL) for 3 d and then treated with or without TNFα (5 ng/mL, 15 min). Expression levels of Mule, Miz1, JNK1, and β-actin, as well as phosphorylation of JNK1, were determined. (D and E) HEK293 cells transfected with control siRNA or siRNA for Mule (100 nM each) were treated with or without FasL (50 ng/mL, 60 min) (D), or IL-1β (5 ng/mL, 15 min) (E), as indicated. Phosphorylation of JNK1 and expression levels of JNK1, Mule, and β-actin were determined.