Fig. 3.

Smad4 was a direct target of miR-324-3p. a The predicted binding site of miR-324-3p at the 3′UTR of Smad4 by Targetscan. b Effect of miR-324-3p on the expression level of Smad4 by western blot. c Luciferase activity analyzed with MGC-803 cells co-transfected with mimics or NC and pGL3-Smad4 or pGL3-Smad4-mut. d Luciferase activity analyzed with BGC-823 cells co-transfected with inhibitor or NC and pGL3-Smad4 or pGL3-Smad4-mut. e Expression level of Smad4 in 68 pairs of GC tissues and adjacent normal tissues was detected by qRT-PCR. f There was a negative correlation between the expression level of miR-324-3p and Smad4 in 68 pairs of GC tissues