Figure 1

ERp44 KO mice are smaller than control littermates and show a constant reduced weight

(A) Mice spleen protein extracts were loaded (40 μg) under reducing conditions on 4%–12% pre-cast polyacrylamide gradient gel (left). After transfer, the nitrocellulose was first decorated with an antibody against ERp44 and then with an anti-actin antibody as loading control. Quantitative measurements of the optical density (right) showed ERp44 normalized on actin (n = 9, two WT: 1 male and 1 female; four Het: 2 males and 2 females; and three KO: 2 males and 1 female of 11 weeks). Average ± SD, Student’s t test (∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01).

(B) Example of body size of WT and KO mice male siblings at 2 months of age.

(C) Body weight of pups was measured 1 day after birth, and then up to 16 days of age. The statistical significance in postnatal growth curve of KO and Het mice with respect to WT is shown (n = 12, four WT: 2 males and 2 females; six Het: 4 males and 2 females; two KO: 2 males). Average ± SD, two-way ANOVA (∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001).

(D and E) Body weight of WT, Het, and KO adult mice at 10 weeks of age (n = 12, three WT: 2 males and 1 female; five Het: 3 males and 2 females; and four KO: 3 males and 1 female) and 7 months of age (n = 9, three WT: 1 male and 2 females; Het: 1 male and 2 females; KO: 1 male and 2 females). Average ± SD, Student’s t test (∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01).