Fig. 2: VRK2 participates in G3BP1-mediated SG formation.

A Representative image of SG formation in VRK2-deficient U2OS cells. U2OS cells were transfected with siVRK2 and the stress was induced by the treatment with sodium arsenite (SA, 50 μM, 2 h). SGs were stained with G3BP1 (green) and the nuclei of cells were stained with DAPI (blue). Scale bar = 50 µm (B) Representative image of SG formation in VRK2-excessive U2OS cells. U2OS cells were transfected with GFP-VRK2 and the stress was induced by the treatment with SA (50 μM, 2 h). SGs were stained with G3BP1 (red) and the nuclei of cells were stained with DAPI (blue). Scale bar = 50 µm. The proportion of U2OS cells with SGs (C) and the average number of SGs per U2OS cells (D) were quantified in control or VRK2-deficient U2OS cells (n = 9). The proportion of U2OS cells with SGs (E) and the average number of SGs per U2OS cells (F) were quantified in control or VRK2-excessive U2OS cells (n = 12). *** p ≤ 0.001, **** p ≤ 0.0001; unpaired Student’s t test was performed for (C, D, E, F). The “n” represents the number of independent experiments. Error bars indicate SDs.