Fig. 4: DLC1 counteracts cell elongating (“humming bird”) by CagA.

Cells (AGS, HEK293T) were transfected with EV, CagA, or DLC1 expression plasmids or a combination thereof for 36 h, followed by fixation and staining using DLC1 and FLAG Abs for immunofluorescence microscopy. Quantitative analyses (top) and representative images (bottom). Numbers of adherent cells with morphologies (spread-out, round, elongated) were counted, normalised to total cell counts and calculated as % ± S.E. (A, HEK293T: *p < 0.05 vs. EV (t = 0), 2way-ANOVA Bonferroni post-tests, n = 3 per cell line; B AGS: *p = 0.0374, Fisher-Exact test; n = 3). Colour code: Red = DLC1; Green = CagA (GFP); Yellow = DLC1/CagA (overlay); Blue = nuclei (DAPI); Original magnifications ×400 (zoomed-in 630×); Scale bar = 20 µm. White frames/arrows: DLC1 promotes neurite-like extensions (abbrev. “nl”) (DLC1v4+) or localises to focal adhesions (abbrev. “fa”) (DLC1v1+); membrane-bound (abbrev. “mb”) CagA forms needle-like elongations (“humming bird”).