Myc-associated zinc finger protein drives colorectal cancer metastasis through activating ubiquitin like with ring finger protein one

Figure 1 Myc-associated zinc finger protein is highly expressed in colorectal cancer cell lines and promotes cell migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. A and B: Western blot and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction showed the level of Myc-associated zinc finger protein (MAZ) in normal colonic epithelial cells (NCM460) and colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines (HCT116 and SW480); C and D: Western blot demonstrated knockdown of MAZ expression in CRC cells using short hairpin-RNA (short hairpin-MAZ) targeting MAZ; E and F: Transwell assay images and quantification showed the migration and invasion of CRC cells after MAZ knockdown; G: Western blot showed protein expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, and snail levels in CRC cells after MAZ knockdown. Data are presented as the mean ± SD. The dashes represent comparisons between groups. The experiments were repeated at least three times independently. MAZ: Myc-associated zinc finger protein; GAPDH: Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; sh: Short hairpin; NC: Negative control. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01, and ^cP < 0.0001.