Fig. 5

c-Jun is crucial for NUAK1-induced migration and invasion in ESCC cells. A The expression of Slug mRNA was detected using qRT-PCR analysis. B The promoter activity of Slug was analyzed using the luciferase assay in NUAK1-overexpressing or knockdown ESCC cells. C The expression of c-Jun and Slug was analyzed in NUAK1-overexpressing EC109 cells treated with c-Jun shRNA. Quantification of indicated protein levels of n = 3 independent biological experiments (right panel). D The promoter activity of Slug was analyzed using the luciferase assay in NUAK1-overexpressing EC109 cells treated with c-Jun shRNA. E Cell migration (left panel) and invasion (right panel) were analyzed in NUAK1-overexpressing EC109 cells treated with c-Jun shRNA. F The expression of c-Jun and Slug was analyzed in NUAK1-knockdown KYSE30 cells treated with c-Jun and control vector plasmids. Quantification of indicated protein levels of n = 3 independent biological experiments (right panel). G The promoter activity of Slug was analyzed using the luciferase assay in NUAK1-knockdown KYSE30 cells treated with c-Jun and control vector plasmids. H Cell migration (left panel) and invasion (right panel) were analyzed in NUAK1-knockdown KYSE30 cells treated with c-Jun and control plasmids. Error bars denote mean ± SD. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001. P value was calculated by Student’s t-test (for A and B, left panel) or one-way ANOVA with post hoc intergroup comparison by the Tukey’s test (for A and B, right panel; D, E, G and H)