Fig. 2

Expression of gBΔR accelerates cell migration in wound healing assays. a HeLa cells stably expressing gB, gBΔR, gBΔD, and gH were analyzed for the surface expression of gB and gH (respectively). This was performed by staining with pre-immune IgG (shaded purple), rabbit polyclonal anti-gB antibodies (black outline), or rabbit polyclonal anti-gH antibodies (black outline) followed by incubation with goat anti-rabbit FITC, before examining by FACS. The average percentage number of cells positive for the surface expression of gB and gH from three independent experiments is provided over the marker. A representative histogram plot for each cell type is depicted. b Untransfected HeLa cells or cells expressing gB, gBΔD, gBΔR, and gH in 24 well plates when 80-90 % confluent were scratched with a 1000 μl pipette tip. Wound closure was monitored at 16 h post scratch and imaged with a laser-scanning LSM 510 Carl Zeiss confocal microscope (Magnification, x 20 objective). A representative image of cell migration is provided. c All the wound healing assays performed in this study were independently repeated five times. The open area (scratch) was quantified with TSratch software and the data represented as a histogram. d Expression of gBΔR on the surface of cells induces directional migration. Data from Transwell migration assays showing alterations on the migration of HeLa cells through a permeable membrane in response to expression of various recombinant gB is depicted. Columns with asterisk mark (panels c and d) denotes the value to be statistically significant (p < 0.05) by least significant difference (LSD)