Expression plasmids for VWF variants and breakpoint-specific siRNAs. Schematic representation of the expression vectors for the wild-type (pWT) and in-frame deleted (pDEL) VWF variants. The amino, carboxyl-terminus, and deleted (r.3629-6093del, p.1127_C1948delinsR) VWF domains are reported as white, light gray, and dark gray rectangles, respectively. Accordingly, PCR primers (VWF-25F, VWF-25R. VWF-35F, and VWF-35R) used to create the deletion are indicated by short white or light gray bars. The black arrow in the pDEL vector indicates the breakpoint. Position and numbering of sequences targeted by siRNA molecules are indicated by small flags. Square brackets indicate the localization of VWF epitopes recognized by antibody pools (M13, M31) used for Western blotting. The filled triangle represents the position (134 bases downstream of the stop codon) of the suppressed SacI restriction site. (Inset) Capillary electrophoresis of wild-type and deleted mRNA reverse-transcribed PCR products from cells transfected with equimolar amounts of the indicated vectors, and on treatment with 40nM si3681 (right).