FIGURE 4.

Uniporter and MICU1 regulate proliferation and apoptosis in malignant cells. A–C, exposure of A2780 cells to ⁺AuNPs induces cellular apoptosis to a certain extent, as shown by annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) assay (A) and TUNEL stain (B and C). NT, nontreated controls. D, the ratio of TUNEL-positive nuclei (green fluorescence) to DAPI (blue fluorescence) was compared and quantified and expressed as the percentage of the total. Ru360 inhibition substantially enhances ⁺AuNP-induced apoptosis (A–D). E, inhibition of MICU1 does not influence base-line cellular proliferation (thymidine incorporation assay) relative to nontreated controls. However, ⁺AuNP-induced cell proliferation is substantially reduced when MICU1 is inhibited (inset shows the efficiency of MICU siRNA knockdown in A2780 cells). F, OSE cells showing a marginal effect under similar conditions. Values are means ± S.D., n = 3. ** indicates significant AuNP effect (p < 0.001). Images shown are representative. Scale bar = 20 μm.