Figure 2.

(A and B) Enhanced expression of N-cadherin and vimentin by EGF. Cell lysates were prepared and western blot analysis was performed as described in the Materials and Methods. Blots were stripped and re-probed with β-actin to indicate relative amounts of protein loaded. Three independent experiments were performed and each blot is a representative of one individual experiment. Graphs are represented as the mean density of N-cadherin and vimentin bands normalised against the mean density of β-actin band from three independent experiments (presented as relative density of individual protein). ^*P<0.05 compared to control untreated cells. (C–E) Expression and localisation of N-cadherin, vimentin and β-catenin in OVCA 433 and SKOV3 cell lines in the presence and absence of EGF. Confocal microscopy was performed as described in the Materials and Methods. Proteins were visualised by Alexa 488 fluorescent label (green) and nuclei were visualised by ethidium bromide staining (red). The image is a representative of four independent experiments. Scale=30 μm. (F and G) Effect of EGF on the migration of OVCA 433 and SKOV3 cells. Cells were cultured on glass coverslips in either normal growth medium (control) or EGF-treated medium (10 ng ml⁻¹). Using scratch tests over 14 h, SKOV3 and OVCA 433 cells were analysed for the extent of wound closure as described in the Materials and Methods. For each coverslip four scratches were made and the width of each scratch was measured at four different locations at 0 and 14 h time points to determine the extent of wound. Phase contrast images are representative of one independent experiment repeated three times. The graphs represent mean % of wound closure from three independent experiments. ^*P<0.05 compared to control untreated cells. Scale=300 μm.