Fig. 1

ERRα suppression inhibits the growth of colon cancer cells. a ERRα was identified and confirmed by Western blot analysis in 12 pairs of colon cancer tissues (F:distal normal tissues; C:colon cancer tissues). b Tissue microarrays were stained with H&E. Representative immunohistochemical staining results for ERRα in human colon tumour tissue and distal normal tissue. c The immunoreactivity scores of cancer and distal normal tissue samples are represented by black closed circles. Frequency distribution of ERRα staining scores for tumour tissues and normal tissues (0–3: low expression; 4–7: moderate expression; 8–12: high expression). d Cell proliferation assays at day 3 after the HCT116 and SW480 cells were transfected with shERRα#1 and shERRα#2 by using the CCK8. e Two individual shRNAs targeting ERRα were introduced into HCT116 and SW480 cells by transfection. Lysates of control and ERRα knockdown HCT116 and SW480 cells were western blotted for ERRα, GAPDH served as a control. f In SW480 cell line, the relative luciferase activity of pGMERRα-Lu detected by dual luciferase reporter gene assay decreased in shERRα#1 and shERRα#2 group compared with shNC group. g Cell proliferation assays at day 3 after the HCT116, SW480 and SW1116 cells were cultured with XCT790 (5 μM and 10 μM) by using the CCK8. h, i Clonogenic assays and qualitative analysis of the HCT116, SW480 and SW1116 cells cultured with 5 μM XCT790 at day 7. j The proliferation proteins c-Myc and cyclin D1 were identified and confirmed by Western blot analysis after the colon cancer cells were treated with the indicated concentrations of XCT790 or DMSO for 48 h. k, l Cell proliferation assays at day 3 after the SW480 cells were cultured with trametinib (50 nM) or/and CCCP (1uM 5 μM and 10 μM); CCCP (5uM) or/and XCT790 (5 uM 10 μM and 15 μM) by using the CCK8