Overexpression of low-molecular-weight caldesmon is associated with aggressive phenotypes and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer cells

Figure 2 Silencing of CALD1 in CAL-51 and BT-549 breast cancer cell lines. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated silencing of CALD1 resulted in a more pronounced reduction (81%) of low-molecular-weight isoform of caldesmon (l-CAD) expression in CAL-51 cells compared with BT-549 cells. A: Representative western blots showing l-CAD expression following transfection with CALD1-specific siRNA in CAL-51 and BT-549 cells. Cells transfected with negative control siRNA and Lipofectamine^® served as controls; B: Relative l-CAD protein expression quantified as the ratio of l-CAD to β-actin; C: Percentage silencing efficiency of l-CAD in CAL-51 and BT-549 cells. ^aP < 0.0151; ^bP < 0.0005. l-CAD: Low-molecular-weight isoform of caldesmon; siRNA: Small interfering RNA; N.C: Negative control small interfering RNA and Lipofectamine^® served as controls.