Figure 3.

Increased apoptosis in SARS2-depleted cells is mitochondria-mediated. (A) At day 4 of the second phase of culture, mitochondrial membrane potential was assessed by flow cytometry in scramble short hairpin RNA (shCTRL) and shSARS2-transduced cells after staining with the potentiometric DilC1(5) fluorescent dye. The percentage of depolarizing cells, defined as the Dilc1(5)^low population was then assessed by flow cytometry. Data are representative of 2 independent experiments. (B) Western blot showing SARS2, cleaved caspase 3 and cleaved caspase 9 expression levels in shCTRL- and shSARS2-transduced cell at day 4 of the second phase of culture. Proteins levels were compared to b-actin expression. Data are representative of 2 independent experiments. (C) Representative western blot showing SARS2, COXII and ATP8 expression levels in shCTRL- and shSARS2-transduced cells at day 4 of the second phase of culture. Proteins levels were compared to b-actin expression.