Figure 5

DCLK1 induces 48-kDa active β-catenin in hepatoma cells by proteasome-independent mechanism. (a) Huh7-RFP-DCLK1 cell cultures were treated with increasing amounts (5 µM to 125 µM, lanes 2–5) of bortezomib (proteasome inhibitor), or equivalent amounts of its solvent (DMSO, lanes 6–9). Lane 1, Untreated control. Total lysates were subjected to Western blot analysis for active β-catenin, apoptosis marker (caspase 3 cleavage) and autophagy marker (LC3B cleavage). (b) Expression levels of total β-catenin in bortezomib treated and untreated Huh7-RFP-DCLK1 cells. The ratios of band intensities of active or total β-catenin to actin (loading control) were calculated using ImageStudio software and relative values are shown at the bottom of the figures.