Fig. 9: NSGs-modulated chemo-plasticity.

A A network diagram revealing the biological implications of NSGs. In the network, the blue nodes (circular representations) denote genes, while the gray nodes (square representations) signify classes. The connecting lines illustrate the relationships between the various entries and genes, with the size of the entry nodes matching the number of gene counts in the corresponding term. B A heatmap illustrating DEGs associated with MAPK and PI3K-Akt pathways during the formation of NSGs (60% CLS-AuNPs, denoted by 60% CLS) and the activation of the compensatory degradation mode of NSGs (combinational treatment denoted by 60%CLS + CB5083). C Analysis of the expression levels of cleaved PARP (pseudo-colored in yellow) and corresponding fluorescence graphs of cells receiving chemotherapy alone or in combination with or without NSGs as stimulated by nanomaterials (arbitrary units: a.u.). D and F Morphological analysis of microtubules. Cells expressing intact NSGs (60% CLS alone) or their dissociated form (with CB5083) were treated with D nocodazole and F paclitaxel at different concentrations. The color bar stands for the direction the microtubules align. Inset: Enlarged view of randomly depicted region as highlighted by the dashed blue square. The sphericity of microtubules was measured as displayed in (E). G Representative fluorescence graphs and H quantitative results of the γ-H2AX. For the treatments, please refer to (C) for reference. Inset: Enlarged view of a randomly depicted region as highlighted by a blue dashed square (arbitrary units: a.u.). I A schematic illustration of the influence of NSGs on chemo-plasticity. Created in BioRender. Huo (2025) https://BioRender.com/op4mwz0. Statistical differences were calculated using a two-tailed t-test or one-way ANOVA. Data represents mean ± SD (Independent biological replicates for C, E, and H, 3, 6, and 3, respectively). Source data are provided as a Source Data file.