Junctional disassembly and apoptosis in αSNAP-depleted cells can be rescued by expression of siRNA-resistant bovine αSNAP.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Immunoblotting analysis shows preserved αSNAP level in SK-CO15 cells with stable expression of bovine αSNAP (SK-αSNAP) after siRNA depletion of endogenous human protein. Comparing to the control cells (SK-neo), such bovine αSNAP overexpression completely prevents induction of apoptosis (<b>A</b>), disruption of the paracellular barrier (<b>B</b>) and AJ/TJ disassembly (<b>C, arrowheads</b>) caused by loss of endogenous αSNAP; ^#p<0.01 compared to the control siRNA-treated group (n = 3). Scale bar, 20 µm.