EMBO/SourceData huggingface dataset:
Figure 3B Dot plots showing the gene expression patterns of selected genes in each cluster.D Flow cytometry analysis of BrdU incorporation in uncultured Lepr-Cre+Notch3+/- BMSCs (n=4 independent experiments). Eight-week-old Lepr-Cre; tdTomato mice were given a single intraperitoneal injection of BrdU (100 mg/kg body mass) and maintained on 0.5 mg/ml of BrdU in the drinking water for 14 days.E Immunofluorescent images of the distal femur in 8-week-old Lepr-Cre; tdTomato mice. Notch3 (green), tdTomato (red), CD31 (gray), DAPI (blue). Sinusoid (a), arteriole (b), artery (c) and avascular bone marrow (BM, d) regions were shown. Arrowheads indicated Notch3+ tdTomato+ adventitial cells closely associated with ECs. Arrows indicated Notch3- tdTomato+ reticular cells in the bone marrow that were not associated with ECs. Scale bars were 10 µm. F Localization quantification of Lepr-Cre+Notch3+ cells relative to bone marrow ECs (n=5 biological replicates from three independent experiments). Cells within 5 µm diameter of ECs were considered adjacent. GH Volcano plot showing DEGs in the bulk RNA-seq analysis (n=3 biological replicates). Green dots represent down-regulated genes. Red dots represent up-regulated genes.O Heatmap showing the average expression levels (column-wide Z score) of secreted factors with clustering.
Figure 4C Heatmap showing pseudotime-dependent gene expression. Bars on the top were colored as in (A). Representative genes were highlighted on both sides.F Representative images of adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation following shRNA knockdown in Lepr-Cre+ BMSCs. Scale bars were 100 µm.G qPCR analysis of the expression levels of Pparg, Bglap and Acan in control or knockdown group (n=3 independent experiments). The statistical significance of differences was analyzed by one-way ANOVAs with Tukey's multiple comparison tests. Data represented Mean ± SD. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001.
Figure 5B Violin plots showing the expression of feature genes for each cluster.F Immunostaining of Sca-1 on femur sections of 8-week-old Lepr-Cre; tdTomato mice. Arrows indicated Sca-1+ tdTomato+ cells inside cortical bones of the femur diaphysis. Arrowheads indicated Sca-1+ tdTomato+ cells in the femur periosteum. B: Bone. BM: Bone marrow. Peri: Periosteum. Scale bars were 100 µm.G Representative flow cytometry plots of long bone periosteum in 8-week-old Lepr-Cre; tdTomato mice. The percentage of DAPI- CD45- Ter119- Tie2- tdTomato+ Sca-1+/- cells were shown.I, J The average number of CFU-F colonies formed (I) and the average cell number per colony (J) were shown (n=4 independent experiments). The statistical significance of differences was assessed using one-way ANOVAs with Tukey's multiple comparison tests. All data represented Mean ± SD. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001.
Figure 6A, B Representative oil red staining after 7 days of adipogenic differentiation in Lepr-Cre+ subsets (A) and qPCR analysis of Adipoq and Pparg expression (B) (n=3 independent experiments). Scale bars were 100 µm.C, D In vitro chondrogenic differentiation of sorted periosteal cells. Representative alcian blue staining after chondrogenic differentiation for 21 days and cryosection (C). Scale bars were 100 µm. Chondrogenic efficiencies were quantified by qPCR analysis of Acan and Col2a1 expression (D) (n=3 independent experiments).E, F In vitro osteogenic differentiation of sorted periosteal cells. Representative alizarin red staining after osteogenic differentiation for 14 days. Scale bars were 200 µm. Osteogenic efficiencies were quantified by qPCR analysis of Sp7 and Bglap expression (F) (n=3 independent experiments).
Figure 1(H) Immunoblot representing levels mTOR-dependent targets with defined 5'TOP motifs 3 hours and 2 days after TAC. n=3 biological replicates per condition.(J) Immunoblots and quantifications of protein expression of mTOR targets two days after TAC surgery and after mTOR inhibition with Torin 1.* p≤ 0.05 vs sham surgery, # p≤ 0.05 vs TAC 2d surgery. t-test, n=5 biological replicates per group. Data information: Error bars indicate means ± SEM(K) RT-qPCR for indicated mRNAs 2 days after TAC for indicated groups, n=5 biological replicates per group. Data information: Error bars indicate means ± SEM
Figure 2(C) Protein expression of Cand2 in NRCMs treated with PE for 3 and 24 h, and 24h of Torin 1 treatment. mTORC1 induction was monitored by downstream targets, p4EBP1 and pS6K proteins. rpS5 - example of mTOR-dependent mRNA used as a positive control. Csq - calsequestrin used as a houskeeping protein.(F, G) Ribo-seq and RNA-seq expression data of Cand2 in sham and TAC operated animals (CPM - count per million). One-way ANOVA, ** - P ≤ 0.01, n=2-4 biological replicates per group. Data information: Error bars indicate means ± SEM(J) Schematic representation of reporter consisting of human Cand2 5'UTR and downstream Renilla luciferase coding sequence. A potential TOP-like motif is highlighted in a grey box. Black arrows indicate transcription start sites in the adult heart according to the Database of Transcriptional Start Sites (Release 10.1). The effect of Cand2 5'UTR on translation measured by luciferase activity in normal conditions and after mTORC1 block with Torin 1. eEF2 - positive control of reporter with defined 5'TOP motif and non-TOP 5'UTR of β-actin used as a negative control. Total protein content in lysates used for luciferase assay. t-test, n=4-5 biological replicates per group, ** - P ≤ 0.01, *** - P ≤ 0.001.
Figure 3(A) Representative immunoblot of Cand2 protein levels in mouse organs.(C) Immunofluorescent staining of paraffin sections from hearts from WT and Cand2 KO mice. CAND2 (stained in red), ACTIN (stained in green) and nuclei (stained with DAPI, blue) in. Scale bar 20μm(F) Immunoblot of subcellular fractionation of left ventricle (LV). Gapdh and Histone 3D (H3D) used as cytoplasmic and nuclear markers, respectively. WCL - whole cell lysate, cyt - cytoplasmic fraction, nuc - nuclear fraction.
Figure 4(E) NRCMs size measurement after Cand2 OE and 24h PE stimulation. Analyzed by One-way ANOVA. n>150 cells from n=3 independent experiments. Violin plot: the middle horizontal lane - median, upper lane - 3rd quartile, lower lane - 1st quartile. Data information: Error bars indicate means ± SEM; * - P ≤ 0.05, ** - P ≤ 0.01, *** - P ≤ 0.001, **** - P ≤ 0.0001(F) Nppa mRNA levels in vitro after Cand2 OE and PE treatment measured by RT-qPCR. Analysed by One-way ANOVA. n=5-9 biological replicates per conditions. Data information: Error bars indicate means ± SEM; * - P ≤ 0.05, ** - P ≤ 0.01, *** - P ≤ 0.001, **** - P ≤ 0.0001(J) Nppa and Nppb mRNA levels 4 weeks after TAC in WT and Cand2 KO mice measured by RT-qPCR. Analyzed by One-way ANOVA. n=6-13 mice per group. Data information: Error bars indicate means ± SEM; * - P ≤ 0.05, ** - P ≤ 0.01, *** - P ≤ 0.001, **** - P ≤ 0.0001
Figure 5(B) Immunoblots and quantification of Grk5 protein levels in vitro after Cand2 KD with siRNA and after Cand2 OE with AAV6. t-test, n=4-5 biological replicates per group. Data information: Error bars indicate means ± SEM. * - P ≤ 0.05, *** - P ≤ 0.001.(F) Representative immunoblot of Grk5 protein levels and quantification in cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions from left ventricle lysates of WT and Cand2 KO mice after TAC surgery. Lamin B - nuclear marker, Gapdh - cytoplasmic marker. Analyzed by One-way ANOVA, n=3 biological replicates. Data information: Error bars indicate means ± SEM. * - P ≤ 0.05, *** - P ≤ 0.001.
Figure 6(B) mRNA levels of MEF2-dependent genes Nr4a1 and Xirp2 in NRCMs with Cand2 KD for indicated groups. PE treatment for 24h (50uM). Analyzed by One-way ANOVA, n=6 biological replicates. Data information: Error bars indicate means ± SEM; * - P ≤ 0.05, ** - P ≤ 0.01, *** - P ≤ 0.001, **** - P ≤ 0.0001(E) Grk5 protein and mRNA levels in NRCMs as well as MEF2-luciferase activity after 24h of Torin 1 treatment. Analyzed by t-test, n=4-6 biological replicates per conditions. Torin1 activity measured by protein levels of phosphorylated ribosomal S6 protein (S235/236rpS6). Data information: Error bars indicate means ± SEM; * - P ≤ 0.05, ** - P ≤ 0.01, *** - P ≤ 0.001, **** - P ≤ 0.0001(I) Grk5, Nppa, and MEF2 targets Nr4a1 and Xirp2 mRNA levels in NRCMs after Raptor KD. Analyzed by t-test, n=3 biological replicates per conditions. Data information: Error bars indicate means ± SEM; * - P ≤ 0.05, ** - P ≤ 0.01, *** - P ≤ 0.001, **** - P ≤ 0.0001
Figure 7(B) Cul1 neddylation analyzed by Western blot in NRCMs depleted of Cand2. NRCMs were treated with MLN4924 (100 nM) to block Cul1 neddylation. Quantification of neddylated and unnedylated Cul1 protein levels after MLN4924 treatment for 24h. t-test, n=4 biological replicates. Data information: Error bars indicate means ± SEM; * - P ≤ 0.05, ** - P ≤ 0.01, *** - P ≤ 0.001, **** - P ≤ 0.0001(D) Grk5 expression in NRCMs upon Cand2 KD and Cul1 neddylation inhibition (MLN) analysed by immunoblot and RT-qPCR. Analyzed by One-way ANOVA, n=4-5 biological replicates. Data information: Error bars indicate means ± SEM; * - P ≤ 0.05, ** - P ≤ 0.01, *** - P ≤ 0.001, **** - P ≤ 0.0001(H) mRNA levels of MEF2-dependent genes Nr4a1 and Xirp2 in NRCMs for indicated groups. Analyzed by One-way ANOVA, n= 6 biological replicates. Data information: Error bars indicate means ± SEM; * - P ≤ 0.05, ** - P ≤ 0.01, *** - P ≤ 0.001, **** - P ≤ 0.0001
Figure 8(A) Quantification of indicated mRNA levels 2 days after TAC measured by RT-qPCR. Analyzed by One-way ANOVA. n=5-7 biological replicates per group. Data information: Error bars indicate means ± SEM; * - P ≤ 0.05, ** - P ≤ 0.01, *** - P ≤ 0.001.(C) Grk5 protein levels in vivo in LVs of WT and Cand2 KO mice 2 days after sham and TAC analyzed by immunoblotting as well as quantification of mRNA levels analyzed by RT-qPCR. Analyzed by One-way ANOVA. n=3-5 biological replicates per group. Data information: Error bars indicate means ± SEM; * - P ≤ 0.05, ** - P ≤ 0.01, *** - P ≤ 0.001.(D) Representative immunoblot and its quantification of protein levels of neddylated and unnedylated Cul1 in Cand2 KO mice compared to WT mice. Analyzed by t-test. n=5-8 mice per group. Cul1 neddylation was inhibited in C2C12 by MLN4924 (-/+ MLN) for neddylated Cul1 band detection. Data information: Error bars indicate means ± SEM; * - P ≤ 0.05, ** - P ≤ 0.01, *** - P ≤ 0.001.
Figure 3IKKε expression was assessed semi-quantitatively using a 0-3 grade scale ("0": no staining; "1": weak; "2": moderate; "3": strong) on human breast cancer sections using immunohistochemistry. Representative images according to the IKKε staining grade are shown. Scale bar: 100 μm. Distribution table of IKKε expression in the cohort of 66 human breast carcinomas according to the staining grade.Correlation between IKBKE mRNA levels (log2 ratio) and immune signature (Yoshihara et al, 2013) in the METABRIC transcriptomic dataset from 1981 breast cancer patients (Curtis et al, 2012). Pearson's correlation rho coefficient and significance of difference from slope = 0 (p) are shown. IKBKE gene copy number and mRNA levels (log2 ratio) from the METABRIC transcriptomic dataset (see D) are plotted. Estimated +1 copy number values are shown by the dotted vertical line. No significant correlation by Pearson's correlation rho coefficient and significance of difference from slope = 0 (p) was detected.
Figure 5PSAT1 expression was assessed semi-quantitatively using a 0-3 grade scale ("0": no staining; "1": weak; "2": moderate; "3": strong) on human breast cancer sections using immunohistochemistry. Representative images according to the PSAT1 staining grade are shown. Scale bar: 50 ­μm.Correlation of mRNA levels of the SBP enzyme genes PSAT1 (E), PHGDH (F), PSPH (G) with the immune signature (Yoshihara et al, 2013) in the METABRIC transcriptomic dataset from 1981 breast cancer patient (Curtis et al, 2012).
Figure 7A-J)Ten per group female C57Bl/6 mice heterozygous for the PyMT-MMTV started high fat diet (HFD) when 6-7 weeks old (prior of mammary tumour development) together with control mice on normal diet (ND; n=10). Wild-type mice on HFD gain more weight compared to ND mice. *p < 0.05 by one-tailed students t-test.A-J)Ten per group female C57Bl/6 mice heterozygous for the PyMT-MMTV started high fat diet (HFD) when 6-7 weeks old (prior of mammary tumour development) together with control mice on normal diet (ND; n=10). Average adipocytes size (major diameter) in mammary fat pads is larger in HFD mice compared to ND mice based on the analysis of at least 100 adipocytes per mice on H&E stained sections. *p < 0.05 by two-tailed students t-test.A-J)Ten per group female C57Bl/6 mice heterozygous for the PyMT-MMTV started high fat diet (HFD) when 6-7 weeks old (prior of mammary tumour development) together with control mice on normal diet (ND; n=10). The number of F4/80+ macrophages in mammary fat pads is increased in HFD mice compared to ND mice. The average of F4/80+ macrophages in at least 10 fields of view per mouse is shown. *p < 0.05 by two-tailed students t-test.A-J)Ten per group female C57Bl/6 mice heterozygous for the PyMT-MMTV started high fat diet (HFD) when 6-7 weeks old (prior of mammary tumour development) together with control mice on normal diet (ND; n=10). Mice were administered amlexanox (17 mM) or vehicle control daily by oral gavage (Reilly et al, 2013). A control group (wild-type mice) was also included to confirm the efficacy of the diet and to control for possible unpredicted interactions of the MMTV-PyMT gene. PyMT-MMTV+/- mice on HFD gain more weight compared to ND mice. *p < 0.05 by one-tailed students t-test. Amlexanox does not affect weight gain either in mice on F) ND or G) HFD.A-J)Ten per group female C57Bl/6 mice heterozygous for the PyMT-MMTV started high fat diet (HFD) when 6-7 weeks old (prior of mammary tumour development) together with control mice on normal diet (ND; n=10). Mice were administered amlexanox (17 mM) or vehicle control daily by oral gavage (Reilly et al, 2013). A control group (wild-type mice) was also included to confirm the efficacy of the diet and to control for possible unpredicted interactions of the MMTV-PyMT gene. Mammary tumours are developing earlier in PyMT-MMTV+/- mice on HFD compared to ND mice. Amlexanox does not affect tumour development in PyMT-MMTV+/- mice on ND, but delays tumour formation in J) HFD mice.
figf1(a) Representative photographs of Bax/Bak−/− MEFs treated with etoposide. Bax/Bak−/− MEFs were treated with 20 μM etoposide in the presence of PI (2 μM) for the indicated times, and were analysed under a phase-contrast and fluorescence (PI) microscope.(b, c) Reduced viability of Bax/Bak−/− MEFs after exposure to etoposide. WT (circles) and Bax/Bak−/− (squares) MEFs were treated with 20 μM etoposide in the presence (closed symbols) or absence (open symbols) of 100 μM zVAD-fmk. Then cell viability was measured by the PI staining (b) and CTB assay (c), and expressed as a percentage of the initial value without etoposide. Data are shown as mean ± s.d. (n = 4).(d) Reduced viability of etoposide-treated Bax/Bak−/− MEFs as assessed by proliferation assay. Bax/Bak−/− MEFs were either not treated (0 h) or were treated with 20 μM etoposide for 12 and 24 h, then all cells were recovered and 5,000 cells were reseeded. Viable cell numbers were measured on the indicated days by the CTB assay. Results were normalized by adjusting the day 0 value. n = 4.e) Reduced viability of Bax/Bak−/− MEFs after exposure to etoposide and staurosporine, as assessed by clonogenicity assay. MEFs were treated with etoposide (20 μM) or staurosporine (1 μM) at the indicated times, collected, and 2,000 cells were seeded in the normal medium. After 1 week, colonies were counted. n = 4f-i) Induction of autophagy in Bax/Bak−/− MEFs by etoposide. (f) Electron micrograph (×14,800) of Bax/Bak−/− MEF treated with etoposide (20 μM) for 18 h. Representative features of Bax/Bak−/− MEFs that have received no treatment (NT; that is, are healthy) are also shown (NT: ×14,000).(g) In magnified photographs, a large number of autolysosomes/autophagosomes (left: ×26,000) were observed, but the mitochondria were unaffected (right: ×17,000).(h, i) Punctate GFP-LC3 fluorescence in Bax/Bak−/− MEFs treated with etoposide. GFP-LC3-transfected cells were incubated with and without etoposide (20 μM) for 24 h (h) or the indicated times (i), and then examined by fluorescent microscopy. (h) Representative photographs of healthy (NT) and etoposide-treated Bax/Bak−/− MEFs are shown. (i) The percentage of cells with punctate GFP-LC3 fluorescence was calculated relative to all GFP-positive cells. Data are shown as mean ± s.d. (n = 4).
figf2(a, b) Bax/Bak−/− MEFs were treated with 20 μM etoposide in the absence or presence of 10 mM 3-MA for 24 h, and then were examined by phase-contrast microscopy (a) and electron microscopy (×8,400) (b). Autolysosomes/autophagosomes were hardly observed. (c, d) Reduction of punctate GFP-LC3 fluorescence in Bax/Bak−/− MEFs by 3-MA. Bax/Bak−/− MEFs that were transfected with GFP-LC3 were incubated without (NT) or with 20 μM etoposide in the presence or absence of 10 mM 3-MA for 24 h, and then were examined by confocal fluorescent microscopy. (c) Representative photograph of etoposide-treated Bax/Bak−/− MEFs in the presence of 3-MA. (d) The percentage of cells with punctate GFP-LC3 fluorescence was calculated relative to all GFP-LC3-positive cells. Data are shown as mean ± s.d. (n = 4).(c, d) Reduction of punctate GFP-LC3 fluorescence in Bax/Bak−/− MEFs by 3-MA. Bax/Bak−/− MEFs that were transfected with GFP-LC3 were incubated without (NT) or with 20 μM etoposide in the presence or absence of 10 mM 3-MA for 24 h, and then were examined by confocal fluorescent microscopy. (c) Representative photograph of etoposide-treated Bax/Bak−/− MEFs in the presence of 3-MA. (d) The percentage of cells with punctate GFP-LC3 fluorescence was calculated relative to all GFP-LC3-positive cells. Data are shown as mean ± s.d. (n = 4).(e-g) Inhibition of etoposide- and staurosporine-induced cell death by 3-MA. Bax/Bak−/− MEFs were treated with 20 μM etoposide (e-g) or 1 μM staurosporine (g) in the absence (open symbols) or presence (closed symbols) of 10 mM 3-MA for the indicated time. Cell viability was measured by PI staining (e), CTB assay (f) and clonogenicity assay (g) (as in Fig. 1e). Upper panels in g: viable cells were visualized by staining with calcein-AM. n = 4.
figf3(a, b) Bax/Bak−/− MEFs were treated with the indicated siRNAs (10 μg) for 24 h and then incubated with 20 μM etoposide for the indicated times. Expression of APG5-APG12 complex (a), Beclin 1 (b) and VDAC (loading control) was analysed by Western blot analysis.(c) Inhibition of etoposide-induced autophagy by silencing of Beclin 1. Bax/Bak−/− MEFs with silencing of Beclin 1 were treated with 20 μM etoposide at 18 h and were analysed by electron microscopy (×8,500).d) Reduction of punctate GFP-LC3 fluorescence in Bax/Bak−/− MEFs by silencing of Beclin 1 and APG5. Bax/Bak−/− MEFs that were transfected with GFP-LC3 together with the indicated siRNAs, were incubated without (NT) or with 20 μM etoposide for 24 h, and then examined by confocal fluorescent microscopy. The percentage of cells with punctate GFP-LC3 fluorescence was calculated relative to all GFP-LC3-positive cells. Data are shown as mean ± s.d. (n = 4).(e, f) Inhibition of etoposide- and staurosporine-induced cell death by silencing of Beclin 1 and APG5. Bax/Bak−/− MEFs that were treated with the indicated siRNAs were incubated with 20 μM etoposide (e, f) or 1 μM staurosporine (f) for the indicated time. Cell viability was measured by CTB assay (e) and clonogenicity assay (f). n = 4.
figf4(a, b) APG5-dependent punctate GFP-LC3 fluorescence in Bcl-2-transfected MEFs after etoposide treatment. APG5+/+ and APG5−/− MEFs that were transfected with both GFP-LC3 and the indicated plasmids (Bcl-2 or vector) were incubated without or with 20 μM etoposide for 24 h, then examined by confocal fluorescent microscopy (a). The percentage of cells with punctate GFP-LC3 fluorescence was calculated relative to all GFP-LC3-positive cells (b).(c) Accumulation of Beclin 1 and APG5-APG12 complex in Bcl-2-transfected MEFs after etoposide treatment. WT MEFs were transfected with the indicated plasmids, and were incubated without (NT) or with 20 μM etoposide for 24 h.(d, e) Occurrence of etoposide-induced 3-MA-inhibitable non-apoptotic death in Bcl-xL-overexpressing APG5+/+ MEFs, but not APG5−/− MEFs. APG5+/+ (open columns) and APG5−/− (closed columns) MEFs were transfected with the indicated plasmids (2 μg). After 24 h, transfected cells were incubated with 20 μM of etoposide in the presence or absence of 100 μM of zVAD or 10 mM of 3-MA for 24 h, and cell viability was measured by the CTB assay (d) and apoptotic nuclear morphology (e). Data are shown as mean ± s.d. (n = 4).(f) Overexpression of Bcl-xL does not sensitize Beclin 1-silenced MEFs to etoposide-induced 3-MA-inhibitable non-apoptotic death. WT MEFs with silencing of control GFP (open columns) or Beclin 1 (closed columns) were transfected with the indicated plasmids (1 μg). After 24 h, transfected cells were incubated with 20 μM of etoposide in the presence or absence of 10 mM of 3-MA for 24 h, and cell viability was measured by the CTB assay. n = 3.
figf5(a) Enhancement of etoposide-induced non-apoptotic death by overexpression of human Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL in Bax/Bak−/− MEFs in a Beclin 1-dependent manner. Bax/Bak−/− MEFs with silencing of control Bax or Beclin 1 were transfected with the indicated plasmids (1 μg). After 24 h, the transfected cells were incubated with 20 μM etoposide for 24 h, and cell viability was assessed by the CTB assay. Data are shown as mean ± s.d. (n = 3).(b) Bax/Bak−/− MEFs were transiently transfected with 10 μg of siRNA for Bcl-2, Bcl-x, or Bax (negative control) for 24 h. Expression levels of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and Lamin B (loading control) were analysed by Western blot analysis.(c-e) Inhibition of etoposide-induced autophagy in Bax/Bak−/− cells treated with siRNA for Bcl-x. (c) Bax/Bak−/− MEFs that were transfected with the indicated siRNAs were treated with 20 μM etoposide for 24 h, then examined by phase-contrast microscopy.(d) Bax/Bak−/− MEFs that were transfected with siRNA for Bcl-x and then treated with etoposide for 18 h were analysed by electron microscopy (×8,500)(e) Reduction of punctate GFP-LC3 fluorescence in etoposide-treated Bax/Bak−/− MEFs by silencing of Bcl-x. Bax/Bak−/− MEFs that were transfected with both GFP-LC3 and the indicated siRNAs were incubated without (NT) or with etoposide for 24 h, and then were examined by confocal fluorescent microscopy. The percentage of cells with punctate GFP-LC3 fluorescence was calculated relative to all GFP-LC3-positive cells. n = 4.f) Inhibition of etoposide-induced cell death by silencing of Bcl-x. Bax/Bak−/− MEFs were transfected with siRNA (circles, siRNA for Bax; squares, siRNA for Bcl-x) were treated with 20 μM etoposide in the absence (open symbols) or presence (closed symbols) of 10 mM 3-MA, and cell viability was assessed by the CTB assay at the indicated times. n = 4.(g) Clonogenicity assay of Bax/Bak−/− MEFs after exposure to etoposide and staurosporine. Bax/Bak−/− MEFs that were transfected with the indicated siRNAs were treated with 20 μM etoposide or 1 μM staurosporine at 24 h. After collection, 2,000 cells were seeded in the normal medium. After one week, colonies were counted.h, i) Inhibition of APG5-APG12 induction by silencing of Bcl-x or Beclin 1. Bax/Bak−/− MEFs were treated with the indicated siRNAs (10 μg) for 24 h and then incubated with 20 μM etoposide for the indicated times. Expression of APG5-APG12 complex, Beclin 1 and GAPDH/VDAC (loading control) was analysed by Western blot analysis.