Knockdown of 5-methylcytosine RNA methyltransferase NOP2/sun RNA methyltransferase 5 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells affects their biological functions

Figure 1 NOP2/sun RNA methyltransferase 5 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and cell lines. A: NOP2/sun RNA methyltransferase 5 (NSUN5) mRNA expression in hepatocellular carcinoma patients (Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis database, normal tissues are matched The Cancer Genome Atlas adjacent tissue and Genotype-Tissue Expression data); B: Differential NSUN5 mRNA expression levels across different tumor-node-metastasis stages (Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis database); C: NSUN5 mRNA levels across cell lines; D: NSUN5 protein expression across cell lines; E: Intracellular 5-methylcytosine RNA contents; F: The 5-methylcytosine RNA levels in cell culture supernatants. ^aP < 0.05, ^cP < 0.001 vs LO2. LIHC: Liver hepatocellular carcinoma; m5c: 5-methylcytosine; NSUN5: NOP2/sun RNA methyltransferase 5.

Figure 2 Impact of silencing NOP2/sun RNA methyltransferase 5 on hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and growth. A: NOP2/sun RNA methyltransferase 5 (NSUN5) mRNA expression in HepG2 post-NSUN5 knockdown; B: NSUN5 protein expression in HepG2 post-NSUN5 knockdown; C: HepG2 viability; D: Colony formation ability of HepG2; E: NSUN5 mRNA expression in SMMC-7721; F: NSUN5 protein expression in SMMC-7721; G: SMMC-7721 proliferation capacity; H: Clonogenic potential of SMMC-7721. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.001. NC: No control; NSUN5: NOP2/sun RNA methyltransferase 5; OD: Optical density.

Figure 3 Effects of NOP2/sun RNA methyltransferase 5 suppression on cellular invasion. A: Invasive capacity of HepG2 ost-NOP2/sun RNA methyltransferase 5 knockdown; B: Invasion potential of SMMC7721 with NOP2/sun RNA methyltransferase 5 depletion. ^cP < 0.001. NC: No control; NSUN5: NOP2/sun RNA methyltransferase 5.

Figure 4 Scratch assay of hepatocellular carcinoma cell migration. A: HepG2 migration post-NOP2/sun RNA methyltransferase 5 interference; B: SMMC7721 migration upon NOP2/sun RNA methyltransferase 5 depletion. ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.001. NC: No control; NSUN5: NOP2/sun RNA methyltransferase 5.

Figure 5 Cell cycle analysis of HepG2 and SMMC772. A: Cell cycle distribution in HepG2 following NOP2/sun RNA methyltransferase 5 knockdown; B: Cell cycle profile of SMMC7721 after NOP2/sun RNA methyltransferase 5 interference. NC: No control; NSUN5: NOP2/sun RNA methyltransferase 5.

Figure 6 Flow cytometric quantification of HepG2 and SMMC772 apoptosis. A: HepG2 apoptosis; B: SMMC7721 apoptosis. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.001. NC: No control; NSUN5: NOP2/sun RNA methyltransferase 5.