Fig. 1.

A: exploration of transfection efficiency: Huh-7 cells transfected with pcDNA-GFP (green fluorescent protein) plasmid DNA. B: PNPLA3 mRNA abundance in siRNA-transfected cells. It demonstrates an ∼65% decrease in PNPLA3 mRNA levels. C: abundance of mRNA and protein levels for both Met148 (mPNPLA3) and Ile148 (wPNPLA3). EV, empty vector. RNA was measured by quantitative real-time PCR, and proteins were identified by Western blotting with visualization using Dura substrate. D. Triglyceride accumulation assay. Cells were exposed to [¹⁴C]palmitate for 48 h and then triglyceride fraction in cells transfected with Met148 PNPLA3 was compared with controls exposed to empty vector and cells transfected with Ile148 PNPLA3, indicating that the mutant PNPLA3 was associated with lower triglyceride lipase activity and/or an increase in acyltransferase activity.