Fig. 5: HnRNP F/H knockdown shortens telomere length and impairs telomerase assembly.

a HeLa cells stably expressing control (shV) or hnRNP F shRNA (#1) were passaged over time and the average telomere length was examined at different population doublings (PD) by a telomere restriction fragment assay. b Data from a were quantified and graphed. Error bars represent means ± SD (n = 3). Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t test (**P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001). c HeLa cells stably expressing control (shV) or hnRNP H1 shRNA (#1) were passaged over time and the average telomere length was examined at different PD by a telomere restriction fragment assay. d Data from c were quantified and graphed. Error bars represent means ± SD (n = 3). Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t test (**P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001). e HeLa cells stably expressing control (shV) or hnRNP F shRNAs (#1 and #2) transfected with FLAG-hTERT plasmid for 48 h and then cells were stained for FLAG-hTERT using anti-FLAG antibody (red), Coilin (a specific Cajal body marker, green), and nuclei (DAPI, blue). Representative immunofluorescence images are shown. White arrow heads indicate the overlapped signals. Scale bar, 10 μm. The experiments were repeated three times.