Fig. 5

Sox2 promotes expression of ST6Gal-I mRNA and protein, leading to enhanced surface α2–6 sialylation. a Sox2 mRNA expression in Pa-1 cells with Sox2 knockdown (KD) or cells transduced with a control shRNA (shC). b Skov3 cells with forced overexpression (OE) of Sox2 or cells transduced with a control empty vector (EV). c Skov3 cell line with doxycycline (dox)-inducible expression of Sox2. Cells were treated with dox for a time course of 48, 72, or 96 h. d Sox2 mRNA expression in cells with inducible Sox2 OE; cells were either induced for 96 h or left uninduced. e ST6Gal-I mRNA expression in Pa-1 shC and KD cells. f ST6Gal-I mRNA expression in Skov3 EV and OE cells. g ST6Gal-I mRNA expression in Skov3 cells with inducible Sox2. Cells were either left uninduced or treated with dox for 96 h. h-j Immunoblot for Sox2 and ST6Gal-I in Pa-1 shC and KD cells (h), Skov3 EV and OE cells (i), or Skov3 inducible cells treated with or without dox treatment for 96 h (j). k-m. SNA staining to detect α2–6 surface sialylation in Pa-1 shC and KD cells (k), Skov-3 EV and OE cells (l), and Skov-3 inducible cells with or without dox treatment for 96 h (m). * denotes p < 0.05