Fig. 1. p53 protein modulation and subcellular localization in HCMV strain VHL/E-infected HUVECs. Immunofluorescence assay of p53 protein (red, Texas Red-X, upper panels), and merged images of p53 with nuclear HCMV immediate early (IE) proteins (green, FITC) and DAPI (blue, nuclear region; lower panels). p53 is mainly stabilized in the nucleus for the first 3 dpi (yellow arrows), followed by a rapid nuclear exclusion (3 dpi), which transfers virtually all of the p53 to the cytoplasm (3 dpi onward) as shown by red color in cytoplasmic regions (white arrows) adjacent to the colocalized IE (green) and nuclei (blue). Temporary cytoplasmic p53 sequestration would generally last for 48-68 hours. Bars below the pictures indicate the three stages of HCMV infection.