Figure 2

Candidate peptides enhanced the expression of MBNL proteins in a DM1 cell model. Quantification by RT-qPCR of relative expression of MBNL1 and MBNL2 transcripts in DM1 cells differentiated for four days and treated with the four candidate peptides (three biological replicates and three technical replicates per biological sample were performed). Levels were referenced to GAPDH as endogenous control (a, b). Western blot quantification relative to beta-Actin confirmed a significant increase in the levels of MBNL1 protein in the cells treated with the 80 and 81 peptides (3 biological replicates per condition). Black lines indicate those lanes cropped from different blots (c). The molecular weight marker band at 37 kDa is indicated to the right of the blot. Confocal microscopy micrographs of control (CNT, d; without DMSO) and DM1 myotubes (e–i) treated with vehicle (DMSO 0.1%; e) or the indicated peptides (f–i) stained for MBNL1 (green channel) and DAPI. All images were taken at the same settings. Note the general increase in the intensity of MBNL1 fluorescence in (f–i) panels. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 according to Student’s t-test. Scale bar corresponds to 100 microns.