Fig. 4

Circ-RNF121 modulated CRC cell malignancy through binding to miR-1224-5p. A The effects between circ-RNF121 silencing and miR-1224-5p inhibitor on miR-1224-5p expression were revealed by qRT-PCR in HCT-116 and SW480 cells. B, C The impacts between circ-RNF121 repression and miR-1224-5p inhibitor on cell proliferation were determined by MTT and cell colony formation assays in HCT-116 and SW480 cells. D The influences between circ-RNF121 knockdown and miR-1224-5p inhibitor on the apoptosis of HCT-116 and SW480 cells were revealed by flow cytometry analysis. E, G Transwell migration and wound-healing assays were performed to investigate the effects between circ-RNF121 repression and miR-1224-5p inhibitor on the migration of HCT-116 and SW480 cells. F The impacts between circ-RNF121 silencing and miR-1224-5p inhibitor on the invasion of HCT-116 and SW480 cells were demonstrated by transwell invasion assay. H–J Glucose assay kit, lactate assay kit and ADP/ATP ratio assay kit were employed to determine the effects between circ-RNF121 silencing and miR-1224-5p inhibitor on glycolysis in HCT-116 and SW480 cells. *P  < 0.05, **P  < 0.01, ***P  < 0.001 and ****P  < 0.0001