Fig. 4.

PAWR competed with circ_0068655 for miR-498 binding sites. A Graphical representation showing the predicted miR-498 binding sites in the region of PAWR and its corresponding mutant sequence. B The expression of miR-498 in HCMs after transfected with miR-498 mimics and miR-498 inhibitor or their respective negative controls was determined by qRT-PCR. (C and D) Luciferase assays were performed in C HCMs and D HEK-293T cells co-transfected with wild-type or mutant psiCHECK2-PAWR 3’UTR and miR-498 mimics or miR-NC. E circ_0068655 and PAWR were pulled down and enriched with biotin labeled miR-498. F,G The gene and protein expression of PAWR in HCMs transfected with miR-498 mimics alone or miR-498 inhibitor was determined by F qRT-PCR and G western blotting, respectively. H PAWR expression in HCMs transfected with shRNAs against circ_0068655 or empty vector (sh-Ctrl) was determined by qRT-PCR. I PAWR expression in HCMs transfected with circ_0068655 plasmid or its respective empty vector was determined by qRT-PCR. J The protein expression of PAWR in HCMs transfected with plasmids as described above was evaluated by western blotting. The data are expressed as the mean ± SD, **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001