Fig. 5

Knockdown of APP and PrP synergize to reduce cell aggregation.

Low doses of prp1 and appa knockdown reagents (morpholinos, MO) are used here to show that their effects on cell adhesion synergize; higher doses of MOs used in this same assay showed individual MOs can also produce this effect. A–D. Zebrafish embryos injected with fluorescent dyes along with control MO (A), low dose of prp1 MO (B), low dose of appa MO (C), or a combination of the two sub-effective MOs (D), were dissociated to single cells and subjected to an aggregation assay. Insets show clumped cells (or lack thereof) at higher magnification. E, F. Aliquots of dissociated cells taken prior to aggregation confirmed that dissociation was successful. G. The ability of these cells to form aggregates (10 or more cells in direct physical contact) rather than stay alone in solution was quantified. Cells with slightly reduced App or slightly reduced Prp had only marginal decreases in aggregation ability, whereas cells with both proteins reduced were significantly reduced in their aggregation ability. N = 3. * = P<0.05.