Objective      To investigate the role of formin-binding protein 1 (FNBP1) in the morphology control and growth regulation in HeLa cells.       Methods      The expression of FNBP1 at mRNA and protein levels in HeLa cells was observed by RT-PCR and Western blotting respectively. After si-FNBP1 vector was transfected into HeLa cells

the expression of FNBP1 was detected after 96 (total silence) and 192 h (expression restored) by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The biological effects after silence of endogenetic FNBP1 in morphology and cell cycle were observed by HE stain and flow cytometry.       Results      FNBP1 was expressed st

eadily in HeLa cells. After silence of endogenetic FNBP1

the cellular morphology of HeLa cells changed into branched fibrous shape

and then restored to the normal shape as epithelial cells. Silence of FNBP1 resulted in 30.36% cells arrested in S phase

significantly increased compared with those in the normal group (25.45%

P

0.05)

while those in G

2

stage (9.28%) were lower than the normal group (11.88%

P

0.05). These changes were recovered when FNBP1 was restored to express.       Conclusion      FNBP1 plays an important role in the morphology control in HeLa cells

and also participates in the cell growth regulation.