Figure 1

ILK protein expression and catalytic activity during BeWo syncytialization. A) Immunoblot analyses of ILK protein expression during a timecourse (0 h – 48 h) of BeWo syncytialization. A representative immunoblot is shown from four independent experiments (n = 4). Middle panel is a representative immunoblot stained for total protein demonstrating comparable protein loading between gel lanes. 37 kDa – 75 kDa represent the position of molecular weight markers. The graph demonstrates the densitometric analysis of ILK protein expression during the timecourse (n = 4). * p < 0.05 vs 0 h and 48 h; **p < 0.05 vs 0 h. B) Representative immunoblots from in vitro kinase assays (n = 4) of ILK catalytic activity in BeWo cells grown under proliferating or syncytialization conditions (Syncytial.). Syncytial. -IgG only = immunoprecipitations with non-specific IgG in place of the primary ILK antisera. P-Ser-9-GSK3β = phosphorylated GST-GSK3β fusion protein. GST-GSK3β = total fusion protein used in the assay. C) A representative immunoblot demonstrating increased syncytin protein expression after 48 h of BeWo cell culture in syncytialization conditions (Syncytial.) compared to proliferating conditions (0 h). D) A representative ELISA demonstrating increased β-hCG secretion from BeWo cells after 48 h of culture in syncytialization conditions (Fused BeWo) compared to cell culture under proliferating (Non-fused BeWo) conditions (n = 8).