TRIM9 Interacts with ZEB1 to Suppress Esophageal Cancer by Promoting ZEB1 Protein Degradation via the UPP Pathway

Figure 6

Influence of ZEB1 on the malignant phenotype of esophageal cancer cells. (a) WB and quantitative RT-PCR assay to evaluate the effects of ZEB1-specific overexpression vectors on ZEB1 protein and mRNA levels. (b) WB and quantitative RT-PCR experiments to evaluate cancer stem-like cell biomarkers including ALDH1 and CD133 in KYSE-30 tumor cells. Each group of cells was separately transfected with ZEB1-specific overexpression vectors in combination with or without TRIM9-specific overexpression vectors. (c, d) Transwell assay to investigate the effects of TRIM9-specific overexpression vectors combined with or without ZEB1-specific overexpression vector transfection on KYSE-30 cancer cell migration and invasion. Percentage of migrated cells for each group was quantified and statistically compared. (e) Quantitative RT-PCR evaluation of the mRNA expression of EMT-associated biomarkers including E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin in esophageal cancer cell lines. Each cell group was separately transfected with TRIM9-specific overexpression vectors in combination with or without ZEB1-specific overexpression vectors.

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