MeCP2 depletion causes defects in spindle pole geometry.
A, spindle pole formation was analyzed in MRC-5 cells depleted or not depleted for MeCP2 by staining against phosphorylated aurora A, B, and C kinases (green) and with DAPI (blue) (n > 3). Ctr., control. B, the presence of mono-, bi-, and tripolar spindles was quantified from cells treated as in A. The graph shows the average of three independent experiments counting ≥180 cells. **, p < 0.01 for mono- and bipolar spindles with both siMeCP2#1 and #2 (mean ± S.E., unpaired Student's t test). C, mitotic MRC-5 cells silenced or not silenced for MeCP2 were stained with an anti-γ-tubulin antibody and DAPI. The distance between the centrosomes in cells with bipolar spindles was analyzed with ImageJ. The graph represents the average of three independent experiments counting ≥80 cells (mean ± S.E.). ***, p < 0.001; unpaired Student's t test). Scale bar = 10 μm.