Figure 7

Expression of nuclear-restricted NLS-GFP-LIMK1, cytoplasmic-restricted NES-GFP-LIMK1, and wild-type GFP-LIMK1 enhance tumor growth. The results represent two independent experiments (A/B and C/D) in which 2 × 10⁶ cells MDA-MB-231 cells, in a 50 μl volume of Matrigel, were injected bilaterally onto mammary fat pads #5 of female athymic-nude mice. (A) Tumor volume was estimated by measurements from electronic calipers over the course of the assay, with GFP-only data points shown as diamonds, NLS-GFP-LIMK1 as triangles, and GFP-LIMK1 as squares. Error bars represent SEM, and p-values for all three experimental groups are equal to or less than 0.05, compared to GFP-control. Statistical analysis was performed by mixed model linear regression analysis. (B) Tumor weights were measured upon excision of the tumors in the study shown in (A). The p-value of GFP-LIMK1 is 0.006, compared to GFP-alone (*). The p-value of NLS-GFP-LIMK1, compared to GFP-alone, is 0.37 (#). Statistical analysis of tumor weights was performed by pairwise comparison in one-way ANOVA. (C) Tumor volume was estimated as in (A), with GFP-only data points shown as diamonds, NLS-GFP-LIMK1 as triangles, NES-GFP-LIMK1 as circles and GFP-LIMK1 as squares. Error bars represent SEM, and p-values for GFP-LIMK1 and NES-GFP-LIMK1 are equal to or less than 0.05, compared to GFP-alone. The p-value of NLS-GFP-LIMK1, compared to GFP-alone, is 0.4. Statistical analysis was performed by mixed model linear regression analysis. (D) Tumor weights in (C) were measured upon excision of the tumors. The p-value of NES-GFP-LIMK1 is below 0.0002, compared to GFP-alone (*). The p-values of NLS-GFP-LIMK1 and GFP-LIMK1, compared to GFP-alone, are 0.67 (+) and 0.24 (#), respectively. Statistical analysis of tumor weights was performed by pairwise comparison in one-way ANOVA.