Overexpressing Ap4G in <i>Aplysia</i> neurons increases cap- and IRES-dependent translation from a reporter construct.

<p>Cultured <i>Aplysia</i> sensory neurons were co-injected with a bicistronic fluorescent reporter and either empty expression vector (Con) or Ap4G (4G). The photos are representative neurons, 48 hours later; the top row shows cyan fluorescence used as a reporter of cap-dependent translation (Cap), the middle row shows yellow fluorescence used as a reporter of IRES-dependent translation (IRES) and the bottom row shows red fluorescence from immunostaining for eIF4G (4G ICC) in the same neurons. The histogram of means (normalized to the respective mean of control cells) and SEMs shows the fluorescent protein expression from the groups of the representative neurons. The ratio of IRES- to cap-dependent translation was calculated (IRES/Cap). The values, SEM and Ns are: control (Cap 1.00 ± 0.07, IRES 1.00 ± 0.05, IRES/CAP 1.00 ± 0.04, 4G 1.00 ± 0.04, n=159 neurons from 16 experiments for CAP, IRES and IRES/CAP, n= 85 neurons from 10 experiments for 4G) eIF4G (Cap 1.62 ± 0.13, IRES 1.84 ± 0.14, IRES/CAP 1.29 ± 0.16, 4G 1.90 ± 0.06, n=180 neurons from 16 experiments for CAP, IRES and IRES/CAP, n=88 cells for 4G) Student’s <i>t</i> test p values (with Welch’s and Bonferroni’s corrections) between control and eIF4G expression are shown over the bars.