Fig. 3: PHF2 is a determinant of PA-induced lipogenesis in HCC cells.

a HepG2 cells were transfected with Flag/SBP-PHF2 plasmid. The proteins purified by Flag or SA affinity beads were subjected to LC-MS and then co-expressed proteins were analyzed. Systemic networks generated by Cytoscape presented the functions of PHF2-interacting proteins. Hep3B cells were transfected with the indicated plasmids and treated with or without PA. b Cells were fixed with formaldehyde, stained with Nile Red and DAPI, and visualized using a fluorescence microscope. Scale bar = 60 µm. n = 3 independent experiments. c FACS analysis of Nile Red stained cells. Numbers indicate the mean fluorescence intensity. d Total RNAs were isolated from the transfected Hep3B cells with the indicated plasmids. The expression of lipogenesis-related genes was quantified by RT-qPCR relative to 18S RNA. Mean ± SD (n = 3 independent experiments); *P < 0.05. Statistical analyses were based on a two-tailed unpaired t-test. e siControl or siPHF2s transfected HepG2 cells were treated with or without PA. Each free fatty acid (FFA) of cells (µg/10⁶ cells) was analyzed by GC-TOF/MS. The color scale bar represents relative expression values ranging from low (blue) to high (yellow). Mean ± SD (n = 8 independent samples); *P < 0.05 by a two-tailed unpaired t test. Tot. total; CHO cholesterol. The exact p values are provided in Supplementary Data 2.