FIGURE 4.

Cx43 expression significantly reduces anchorage-independent growth, whereas cell migration remains unaffected. A, when grown in soft agar suspension for 10 days, cell colonies were evident under phase contrast, and those formed from Cx-expressing melanomas were GFP-positive. B, the number of colonies formed was significantly reduced in melanomas expressing Cx43-GFP by ∼4.5-fold in comparison to controls (n = 240; ***, p < 0.001), whereas Cx26-GFP expression did not significantly alter the number of cell colonies (n = 240, p = ns). C, using a scratch assay, the migratory ability of Cx-deficient and Cx-expressing melanomas was assessed. Cells were grown to confluence, pulsed with 25 μg/ml of Mitomycin C for 30 min, scratched (red line at 0 h), and supplemented with serum-free medium. D, the distance migrated from the initial scratch edge to the leading edge after 24 and 48 h (C, red line at 48 h) was not statistically different between Cx-deficient and Cx-expressing melanomas (n = 20, p = ns). Bars, 200 μm.