Fig. 2.

Stability and dimerization of the truncated protein. Lysates from primary fibroblasts were analyzed by Western blotting and immunodetection with anti-HSPB1 antibody. (A) Shown is a representative blot form control (C), HSPB1^R127L (P2) and HSPB1^∆C-term (P1) fibroblasts. The wild type HSPB1 protein of 27 kDa size is detected in all samples. In HSPB1^∆C-term fibroblasts an additional band about 23 kDa in size, corresponding to the truncated protein, is observed. (B) Western blots under non-reducing conditions were performed to detect HSPB1 dimers. At normal exposure the control fibroblasts (C1–3) show a band at ~ 27 kDa corresponding to the wild type monomer and at ~ 50 kDa corresponding to the wild type dimer. The HSPB1^R127L fibroblasts (P2) are similar to wild type. In HSPB1^∆C-term fibroblasts (P1), the ~ 27 kDa monomer and ~ 50 kDa dimer can be detected, but overexposure of the same blot shows two additional fainter bands (arrowheads) corresponding to dimers formed by wild type and truncated protein or two truncated proteins.