Figure 4. Evaluation of BECN1 and mTOR in SMB cells.

(a) Western blots of BECN1 and mTOR. The results of the quantitative analysis of the gray values of the individual blots of SMB-S15 and SMB-PS cells after normalisation with β-actin are shown on the right. The average relative gray value was calculated from three independent blots and expressed as the mean ± SD. (b) Comparison of the alterations in BECN1 and mTOR in SMB-S15 cells and in the brains of hamsters infected with scrapie agent 263 K. Data on the infection of the hamsters were from our previous publication¹⁵. The alterations of BECN1 and mTOR in SMB-S15 cells and in 263 K-infected hamsters were assessed relative to those of SMB-PS cells (set at 1.0) and normal hamsters (set at 1.0), respectively. Statistical differences in the alterations of BECN1 and mTOR between the scrapie-infected cell line (SMB-S15) and scrapie-infected animals (263 K-infected hamsters) are shown on the right.