Fig. 4. PFKFB3 knockdown inhibited DNA repair via the AKT/ERCC1 pathway.

a Comet assay for DNA damage of SMMC7721-shPFKFB3 and SMMC7721-shVector. In SMMC7721-shPFKFB3 cells, DNA damage presented more compared with SMMC7721-shVector cells. b The ATM/Chk1/cdc25C signaling pathway-associated proteins were detected by Western blot in SMMC7721-shPFKFB3 and Huh7-PFKFB3 compared with their vector control. c Immunoprecipitation assay was conducted for SMMC7721 cells, and IgG was used as a control. AKT was immunoprecipitated by anti-PFKFB3 antibody. d The PFKFB3, AKT, pAKT, and ERCC1 were detected by Western blot in SMMC7721-shPFKFB3 and Huh7-PFKFB3 compared with their vector control. e Inhibited AKT phosphorylated by MK-2206 in Huh7-PFKFB3 cells. PFKFB3 expression was not increased but ERCC1 expression was decreased in Huh7-PFKFB3 cells, and the ATM/Chk1/cdc25C signaling pathway had no significant change. **p < 0.01