Loss of Klf1 disrupts the normal apoptotic program. (A) Expression of Bcl2l1 and Bcl2l11 by qRT-PCR in E14.5 fetal liver normalized to the housekeeping gene HPRT. Each bar shown is the mean + SEM for at least three independent biological replicates. (*) P < 0.05 by Student's t-test. Klf1+/? is used to indicate that both Klf1+/+ and Klf1+/− samples were considered together. (B) Western blot analysis of whole-cell protein extracts for different Klf1 genotypes as indicated. Protein levels of caspase 3 (CASP3) and PARP1 were investigated using specific antibodies with GATA1 as a loading control. Expected cleavage products of caspase 3 and PARP1 are shown by a left-facing arrow and asterisk, respectively. (C) Representative TUNEL assay FACS plots for Klf1+/+ and Klf1−/− genotypes as indicated. Cells were co-stained for TUNEL and the erythroid marker CD71. The percentages of cells staining TUNEL positive are indicated.
