Fig. 1

The effect of BMAL1 on the proliferation and cellular motility of breast cancer cells. a Western blot analysis of BMAL1 and MMP9 expression in MCF-7, T47D, ZR-75-30, and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Experiments were repeated at least three times. b, c MTT assays assessing the effects of BMAL1 overexpression on the proliferation of ZR-75-30 and T47D cells. d Clonal formation assays assessing the effects of BMAL1 overexpression on the proliferation of ZR-75-30 cells. e Clonal formation assays assessing the effects of BMAL1 knockdown on the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells. f, g Transwell migration and invasion assays assessing the effects of BMAL1 overexpression or knockdown on the motility of ZR-75-30 or MDA-MB-231 cells. Cell migration and invasion assays were performed in 24-well chambers without or with Matrigel. Cells (1 × 10⁵ per well) were transfected with HA-BMAL1 and control vector and shBMAL1 or shControl then plated in the upper chamber. After 24 h of incubation, the migrating and invading cells on the lower surface of the filter were stained and counted (left). The bar graphs show the number of migrating and invading cells for each category of cells repeated three times (right). h, i Scratch wound-healing assay evaluating the effects of BMAL1 overexpression or knockdown on the cellular motility and invasion ability of ZR-75-30 or MDA-MB-231 cells. Data are presented as mean ± SD (p < 0.05, significant; ns, not significant; *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001)