Mer knockdown attenuates pro-survival gene regulation and increases pro-apoptotic gene expression. (A) After treatment with 200 nM Gas6 for 10 minutes or 30 nM methotrexate for 1 hour, shMer1 knockdown and shControl 697 cells were harvested and RNA was extracted. RNA sequencing was performed revealing increased mRNA expression of proapoptotic genes BAX (BAX), PMAIP1 (NOXA), and BBC3 (PUMA) and decreased expression of prosurvival genes BCL2L1 (BCL-XL), PIK3R5 (PI3K), and PRKCB (PKC) in shMer knockdown cells relative to control cells after treatment with Gas6 or methotrexate. (B) Immunoblot analysis of BAX, PUMA, and PKC protein levels in shMer knockdown and shControl 697 cells treated with Gas6 or methotrexate demonstrating protein levels concordant with the altered gene expression profiles observed in panel A.