Fig. 4

Rac1 is the downstream effector of SOX2- and NEDD9-induced breast cancer cell migration under hypoxia. (a) MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells were incubated with hypoxia for the indicated time and the induction of Rac1-GTP level was determined using pulldown analysis. The data were quantified and normalized against total Rac1. *p < 0.05, referring to the difference between cells incubated with or without hypoxia. (b) The migratory capacity of those cells transfected with empty vector or Rac1-T17 N plasmids under hypoxia was evaluated using a wound-healing assay. (n = 10). *p < 0.05. (c&d) After transfection with siSOX2 (c) or siNEDD9 (d), hypoxic cells were lysed and the Rac1-GTP level was determined via western blotting analysis. Rac1-GTP was quantified and normalized against Rac1. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01