FIG. 2.

Determination of the transcriptional and posttranslational activation of BH3-only proteins. (A to D) Real-time quantitative PCR of BH3-only genes puma, bim, noxa, and bid. Cortical neurons were treated with epoxomicin (50 nM) or the control (DMSO; 0.1%) for the indicated time periods. The relative mRNA expression levels were assessed by RT-qPCR and normalized to β-actin mRNA levels. Expression levels were normalized to control-treated cells, and data are represented as means ± SEM from three wells. *, P < 0.05 compared to control-treated controls (ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test). (E) Cortical neurons were treated with epoxomicin or DMSO for the indicated time periods. The expression of Puma, Bim, Bid, and caspase-8 was analyzed by Western blotting. Probing for β-actin served as the loading control. Similar results were observed in two other independent experiments. t-Bid, truncated Bid.