Since pancreatic cancer cells maintain intracellular levels of nutrients via pathways of both autophagy
and macropinocytosis, REP1-mediated autophagy regulation could be a potential therapeutic target
for treating pancreatic cancer.
2. Results
2.1. REP1 Regulates Cell Growth and Survival in Pancreatic Cancer Cell Lines
Since a predominant function of REP1 is prenylation of Rab proteins via recruitment with
active Rab geranylgeranyl transferase (RabGGTase), we hypothesized that REP1 might be critical
for intracellular vesicle trafficking, closely related to growth signaling pathways. To explore the
functional effect of REP1 in cancer cells, cells of the pancreatic cancer cell lines MiaPaCa2 and 8988T
were transfected with REP1 small interfering RNA to knock down REP1.Compared to treatment
with control siRNA, two independent REP1siRNA transfections reduced protein levels of REP1,
as determined by immunoblot analysis (Figure 1A).
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18, 1866
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18, 1866

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Figure 1.
1. Rab
Rab escort
escort protein1
protein1 (REP1)
(REP1) depletion
depletion suppresses
suppresses cell
cell growth
growth and
and survival.
survival. (A)
(A) MiaPaCa2
MiaPaCa2
Figure
cells
were
transfected
with
control
(CTL)
and
REP1
small
interfering
RNAs
(siRNAs).
After
cells were transfected with control (CTL) and REP1 small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). After 48
48 h,
h,
immunoblotting
was
performed
to
analyze
REP1
protein
levels.

### Language ###
English

### Assessment ###
The text mentions a specific research method involving a cell line; we can ask about what protein was studied in the MiaPaCa2 cell line.

### Query ###
What protein is studied in MiaPaCa2 cells?
What protein is studied in MiaPaCa2 cells?