Fig. 4

CREB5 was positively regulated by circVAPA/miR-125a. a, b The binding sites betweenmiR-125a and circVAPA or CREB5 3′UTR were predicted by starBase or DIANA TOOL. c, d Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to confirm the bindings among circVAPA, miR-125a and CREB5. e, f The interacting between circVAPA, miR-125a and CREB5 was proved by RIP assay. g The effects of circVAPA upregulation and deletion on miR-125a expression were assessed in HCT116 and LOVO cells. h The effects of miR-125a overexpression and knockdown on CREB5 protein level were detected in HCT116 and LOVO cells. i The protein levels of CREB5 were examined in HCT116 and LOVO cells transfected with vector, circVAPA, circVAPA + miR-con and circVAPA + miR-125a. j CREB5 protein levels were measured in HCT116 and LOVO cells transfected with si-con, si-circVAPA, si-circVAPA + anti-miR-con and si-circVAPA + anti-miR-125a. *P < 0.05