Fig. 4

Downregulation of DMTN promotes actin cytoskeletal rearrangements in CRC cells through the Rac1 signaling pathway. a, b, Confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis of the actin cytoskeletal remodeling of CRC cells with DMTN overexpression or knockdown (arrows show cell lamellipodia and protrusion formation). c, Western blot detection of the expression of the target genes of Rac1 signaling in the CRC cells with DMTN overexpression or knockdown. d, The effect of DMTN-ARHGEF2-Rac1 on the expression of target genes using a Rac1 signaling inhibitor and activator by western blot analysis. e, Rescue experiment analysis of the effect of DMTN-ARHGEF2-Rac1 on the migration of CRC cells with DMTN overexpression transfected with the ARHGEF2 shRNA vector. f, g, Rescue experiment analysis of the effect of DMTN-ARHGEF2-Rac1 on the migration of CRC cells with DMTN overexpression using a Rac1 signaling activator or inhibitor. The error bars represent the mean ± SD of 3 independent experiments, ** P < 0.01