ABSTRACT
Objective·To explore the effects of ubiquitin protein ligase E3C (UBE3C) on proliferation and invasion in epithelial ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells. Methods?·?Western blotting was used to detect the expression difference of UBE3C in epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines and normal ovarian cell lines. SKOV3 cells were transfected with si-UBE3C to knockdown UBE3C protein level, while ex-UBE3C plasmid was used to upregulate the expression of UBE3C. Cell proliferation was measured by CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay. Wound healing assay and Transwell assay were performed to investigate the effect of UBE3C on migration and invasion. Protein levels of β-catenin and c-Myc were also detected in different groups, which were closely related to proliferation and invasion. Results?·?UBE3C was highly expressed in epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines. UBE3C was successfully silenced with si-UBE3C transfection in SKOV3 cells. Inhibition of UBE3C significantly weakened the abilities of cell proliferation, migration and invasion. A reduction of β-catenin and c-Myc protein levels was also accompanied by UBE3C knockdown. Overexpression of UBE3C with ex-UBE3C plasmid promoted the abilities of proliferation, migration and invasion. Enhanced expression levels of β-catenin and c-Myc were also verified. Conclusion?·?UBE3C promotes proliferation and invasion of epithelial ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells. This might be to do with upregulation of β-catenin and c-Myc protein levels.