Fig. 3

circFBLIM1 serves as a sponge for miR-346. a The levels of U6, GAPDH and circFBLIM1 were assessed by qRT-PCR in nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions. b The predicted binding sites of miR-346 within circFBLIM1 were shown. c Cells were transfected with miR-346 mimics or miR-346 LNA, qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated that the transfection was successful. d Luciferase assay of cells co-transfected with miR-346 mimics or miR-346 LNA and luciferase reporter containing circFBLIM1 (circFBLIM1 wt) or mutant construct (circFBLIM1 mut). e Cells were transfected as described, and the expression of circFBLIM1 was determined by qRT-PCR. f Cells were transfected with si-NC or si-circFBLIM1, and the expression of miR-346 was determined by qRT-PCR. U6 snRNA was used as an internal control. g MS2bp-MS2bs based RIP assay in HCC cells transfected with MS2bs-circFBLIM1, MS2bs-circFBLIM1mt, or MS2bs-Rluc. h The expression level of circFBLIM1 in 50 HCC tissues and matched para-carcinoma normal tissues was determined by qRT-PCR. i The expression level of miR-346 in the aboved tissues was determined by qRT-PCR. All the data are shown as the mean ± S.D., *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01