Fig. 7

Induction of autophagy following sodium valproate (valproate) treatment of MJD zebrafish and human ataxin-3 expressing HEK293 cells is dependent on sirtuin activity. A Protein lysates from groups of MJD zebrafish larvae underwent immunblotting for LC3B. B Densiometric analysis revealed that valproate treatment increased LC3II/I ratio compared to vehicle treatment (**p = 0.003), but co-treatment with valproate and EX527 prevented this increase in LC3II/I (*p = 0.013, n = 6–7). C Immunoblots for LC3 were performed on lysates from cells treated with valproate, EX527 and 3MA, together and alone. D Densiometric analysis revealed that whilst valproate increased LC3II/I ratio, suggesting increased autophagosome production, cotreatment with valproate and EX527 or valproate and 3MA prevented that increase (*p < 0.05, n = 3 independent experiments). Data represents mean SEM. Comparisons were made using two-way ANOVAs followed by a Tukey post-hoc analysis