Research Paper Volume 14, Issue 1 pp 316—329
Deglycosylated EpCAM regulates proliferation by enhancing autophagy of breast cancer cells via PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway
Figure 6. Effects of EpCAM on autophagy via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. (A) MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with M-EpCAM plasmid and MK2206 (1μM) for 48 h. Whole cell lysates were subjected to western blot to detect the expression of Beclin 1, p62 and the conversion from LC3-I to LC3-II. (B) MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with M-EpCAM plasmid, pGFP-LC3 plasmid and MK2206 (1μM) for 48 hr. Cells were observed under an inverted microscope. Arrow depicted the autophagosome. (C) Representative transmission electron microscopy images depicting ultrastructures of MCF-7 cells which were transfected with M-EpCAM plasmid and MK2206 (1μM) for 48 h.