Fig. 4

Overexpression of Kpnβ1 results in changes in the morphology and adhesion properties of cervical cancer cells. a Phase contrast images showing HeLa EGFP and Kpnβ1-EGFP cells, taken 48 h post plating. Cells were viewed at 20 x magnification using the Zeiss Primovert inverted phase microscope. b Quantification of relative HeLa cell area ± SEM of forty cells from each condition was performed using the AxioVision 4.7 software (*p < 0.05). c Fluorescent staining of polymeric F-actin using phalloidin (red) in EGFP and Kpnβ1-EGFP expressing HeLa cells. DAPI stain was used to visualize the cell nuclei (blue). d Quantification of the number of cytoplasmic protrusions from the captured fluorescent images. Results shown represent the mean ± SEM over fifteen fields of view (*p < 0.05). e Relative cell adhesion of HeLa EGFP and Kpnβ1-EGFP cells. Adherent cells (on uncoated tissue culture plates) were fixed (after removing non-adherent cells by washing) and stained with 0.5% crystal violet solution. Cells over ten fields of view, viewed at 10 x magnification, were counted using ImageJ and normalized to unwashed cells. Results shown represent the mean ± SEM (*p < 0.05). f Western blot analysis showing E-cadherin and Vimentin expression in Kpnβ1-overexpressing cells. GAPDH was used as a control for loading. g An in vitro scratch wound healing assay was performed and showed no change in migration of HeLa EGFP and Kpnβ1-EGFP cells within a 24 h period. h Quantification of the scratch wound healing assay in G