Fig. 3: PER2-dependent promotion of cuproptosis inhibits OSCC development in vivo.

A Schematic diagram of male BALB/c nude mice subcutaneously injected with Vector-SCC25 or OE-PER2-SCC25 cells to establish a model, and treated with TTM in OE-PER2-SCC25 model. B OE-PER2-SCC25 cell subcutaneous tumor formation assay in nude mice, growth of tumors in three groups at day 28. C Western blotting to examine PER2, DLAT, PDHB and SLC31A1 protein expression in tumors of Vector-SCC25 and OE-PER2-SCC25 groups. D Copper Colorimetric Assay Kit to measure intra-tumor copper concentration in Vector-SCC25, OE-PER2-SCC25 and OE-PER2-SCC25 + TTM groups. E Non-denaturing gel electrophoresis assay to detect intra-tumor DLAT oligomers in Vector-SCC25, OE-PER2-SCC25 and OE-PER2-SCC25 + TTM groups. F Micro-mitochondrial Complex I and II Activity Assay Kit to detect mitochondrial complex I and II activity in the tumors of Vector-SCC25, OE-PER2-SCC25 and OE-PER2-SCC25 + TTM groups. G Fumarate Assay Kit and α-KG Assay Kit to detect concentrations of fumarate and α-ketoglutarate in tumors of Vector-SCC25, OE-PER2-SCC25, and OE-PER2-SCC25 + TTM groups. H IHC assay of Ki67 expression in tumors in Vector-SCC25, OE-PER2-SCC25, and OE-PER2-SCC25 + TTM groups (n = 6, scale bars = 50 μm). All data represent three replicate independent experiments. Data are presented as mean ± SD. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001; ****p < 0.0001.