Figure 2

Twist enhances migration, tumorsphere-formation and ALDH1 activity. (a) Hela and MCF7 cells and their corresponding transfectants were seeded on 6-well plates. After 48 h, a scratch ("wound") was induced in a cell monolayer, and cell culture was continued for an additional 24 h. Images were obtained at the beginning and at the 24 h time point to monitor the cell migration for the closure of the wound. The percentage of cell migration was calculated based on the migration of Hela and MCF7 cells (mean ± SEM in three separate experiments) and the representative images were shown in the left panel. *P < 0.01 for Hela cells compared with the corresponding Twist-overexpressing cells. ^# P < 0.05 for MCF7 cells compared with the corresponding Twist-overexpressing transfectants. (b) The tumorsphere formation was measured in Hela and MCF7 cells and in their corresponding Twist-overexpressing stable transfectants as described in Materials and Methods. The statistical analysis for the tumorsphere formation from three independent experiments in duplicate was calculated and presented. * and ^# P < 0.01 for Hela and MCF7 cells compared with their corresponding Twist-overexpressing transfectants. (c) The expression of ALDH1 in Hela and MCF7 cells and their corresponding Twist-overexpressing stable transfectants were analyzed by Western blotting. β-tubulin served as a loading control.