Apoptosis induced by Vpr variants.

<p>(<b>a</b>) The Hela cells were transfected with 2 µg of each plasmid encoding B Vpr, C Vpr and Vpr variants and cells were harvested after 24 hrs using Trypsin EDTA. Cells were then washed with PBS, fixed in 70 percent ethanol, treated with RNase A and stained with PI. After staining, cells were analyzed in PI/RNase solution by flow cytometry. Apoptotic cells were observed as a separate peak before G1 phase. Percentage apoptosis recorded with each variant is shown at the upper right corner. B/C/D recombinants Vpr 45 and Vpr 46 induce less apoptosis then wild type Vpr. Results shown here are the representatives of three independent experiments. <b>b</b>) The percentage of apoptotic cells for each sample was plotted as a bar diagram comparing with wild type B Vpr. The p value was less than 0.05 for each sample. (<b>c</b>) The percentage of apoptotic cells for each sample was plotted as a bar diagram comparing with wild type C Vpr. The p value was less than 0.05 for each sample.