Fig. 1.

Kindlin-1, −2 and − 3 expression, involvement in morphology and subcellular localization in breast cancer cells. a Western Blots were performed in order to compare protein levels of Kindlin-1, − 2 and − 3 between different breast cancer cell lines and a hematopoietic cell line (THP1). (b-d) MD-MB-231, BT20 and MDA MB 468 cells were transfected with control siRNA (si-ctrl), KIND1 siRNA (si-Kind1), KIND2 siRNA (si-Kind2) alone or in combination (si-Kind1 + si-Kind2) for five days. b Cellular extracts were immunoblotted with anti-Kindlin-1, anti-Kindlin-2, and anti-GAPDH (loading control) antibodies. c Phase contrast microscopy was performed in MDA-MB-231 cells to calculate the roundness (% of rounded cells) and cell area (μm²) represented as the mean +/− SEM of values. Statistical analysis were made by performing a t-test (****p < 0.0001; ***p < 0.001; *p < 0.05; ns: not significant). d Five days after transfection, MDA-MB-231 cells were also fixed, permeabilized and immunostained with anti-Kindlin-1 and anti-Kindlin-2 antibodies. Cells were then counterstained with DAPI and imaged with a fluorescence microscope (original magnification: X100)