FIG. 8.

BNIP3 induces ultrastructural changes of necrosis. Normal 293T cells (A) and BNIP3-expressing 293T cells (B to F) were examined 24 h posttransfection by transmission electron microscopy. Nuclei of BNIP3-expressing cells exhibited dispersed foci of chromatin condensation and heterochromatin (B) compared to control cells (A). High-power magnifications of BNIP3 transfectants showed rounded mitochondria with disrupted internal structures (arrows) (C), extensive cytoplasmic vacuolation (D), autophagosomes (arrows) (E), and autophagic vacuoles containing membranous whorls (F). (A and B), bar, 1 μm; (C to F) bar, 0.5 μm.