Deletion of SLC38A5 downregulates cell viability and migration in gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cells. (A) Median inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of gemcitabine for each cell line (PANC-1 and Capan-1). (B) mRNA and protein expression of SLC38A5 and RRM1 in gemcitabine-sensitive PDAC cell lines (PANC-1 and Capan-1) and gemcitabine-resistant PDAC cell lines (PANC-GR and Capan-GR). (C) Cell viability of PANC-1, PANC-GR, Capan-1, and Capan-GR was determined using the WST assay. Each cell line was transfected with siSLC38A5. Transfection was confirmed via RT-PCR. (D) Migration of cells was measured via wound healing assay. The statistical analysis of wound closure percentage was measured using Image J software (version 1.8.0). (E) Representative photographs of the number of invaded cells that pass through the Matrigel-coated Transwell invasion assay. (F,G) The EMT marker expression of siRNA transfected PANC-GR and Capan-GR was analyzed via RT-PCR (F) and Western blot (G). All experiments were performed at least three times. Bars represent means ± SD. ns = not significant; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001.