FIGURE 5.

Effect of gain of mtSSB function on mitochondrial mass and function. A, shown is a representative microphotograph of an immunoblot demonstrating stable mtSSB overexpression in Saos2 cells. Cells were transfected with the pcDNA-mtSSB construct, and the levels of mtSSB protein were confirmed for at least five passages. B and C, shown is the effect of mtSSB overexpression on the amount of mtDNA (B) and oxygen consumption (C) in Saos2 cells. gDNA, genomic DNA. Mitochondrial DNA content and the rate of oxygen consumption were determined as described under “Experimental Procedures.” Values represent the means ± S.E.; n = 3 independent measurements. *, p < 0.05, as compared with non-transfected Saos2 cells.