Depletion of CLP36 reduces RhoA activity and traction force in podocytes. A, human podocytes were transfected with CLP36 siRNA C-KD1 (lane 2), C-KD2 (lane 3), or a control RNA (lane 1). The cell lysates (4 μg of proteins/lane) were analyzed by Western blotting with Abs for CLP36 or tubulin (as a loading control). B, active RhoA was measured as described under “Experimental Procedures.” Bars represent means ± S.D. (error bars) from three independent experiments. *, p < 0.05 versus the control. C and D, cell traction force (CTF) of the control and CLP36 knockdown cells was measured as described under “Experimental Procedures.” C shows representative images of traction force microscopy of the control and CLP36 knockdown podocytes. Bars in D represent relative cell traction force (means ± S.D.) from three independent experiments. *, p < 0.05 versus the control.