Fig. 2

Forced expression of Survivin affetcs mitosis and augments polyploidy in cells with mutant p53, loss of p53 and astrocytoma cells with expression of SV40 TAg. a Representative images of U251-MG cells stained with DAPI (chromosomes) (top panel: control cells; bottom panel: Survivin cells). Abnormal interphase cells (white arrows) and increased chromosome numbers as well as lagging chromosomes are depicted (white circle and white arrows). b Relative mean percentages of U251-MG and SVGp12 cells displaying abnormal nuclei and aberrant mitoses (mean values ± SD; *p < 0.051**. p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001; Student’s t-test. c Representative FACS-assisted DNA-content analysis of U251-MG (top panel) and SVGp12 cells (bottom panel) with overexpression of Survivin compared to the empty vector transduced controls. Note the increased 4n peak and >4n populations. d Mean increase in the fraction of Survivin-transduced cells with DNA content of 4n and >4n compared to empty vector-transduced controls (mean values ± SEM). Cell lines with loss of p53 function showed increased cell fractions with DNA content ≥4n in contrast to cells containing wildtype p53. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.005, ***p < 0.001. All data were collected 72 h after transduction of cells