Figure 9. NET23/STING chromatin effects are independent of apoptosis and result in an increase in G2/M.

(A) Untransfected cells (Mock), NET23-GFP transfected cells, and NET23-GFP transfected HT1080 cells treated with 20 µM of the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD were stained for DNA content with the permeable dye Hoechst 33342 and the characteristic early apoptosis marker annexin V. The total sub-G1 population is gated (pink box) and anything above roughly 10³ should be positive for annexin V. Both the lower sub-G1 population and most of the annexin V staining of the NET23-GFP population are absent from the Z-VAD treated population. (B) HT1080 cells were similarly treated, fixed and stained for DNA for microscopy. Despite the blocking of apoptosis pathways with the pan-caspase inhibitor, the chromatin compaction still occurred in the NET23/STING transfected cells. Scale bars  = 10 µm.