Fig 2: Schematic illustration depicting the function of ALDOA: ALDOA reverses the cell cycle arrest induced by DNA damage by inhibiting ATM and promoting PLK1 activation. The dashed arrow highlights the alleviation of cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase by phospho-PLK1-T210 in tumour cells without ALDOA

Fig 3: ALDOA decreased the percentage of cells in G2/M phase by suppressing ATM expression. A GSEA was conducted to analyse the signalling pathway enrichment in siALDOA PANC-1 and SW1990 cells compared with the NC group. B, C, D and E The mRNA and protein levels of ATM expression in ALDOA-silenced and ALDOA-overexpressing cell lines (PANC-1 and SW1990). F Confocal microscopy showed DNA damage (green) and nuclear DNA (blue) in ALDOA-silenced or normal cells (PANC-1 and SW1990) treated with siATM or siNC. G Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry demonstrated an obvious change in the proportion of cells in G2/M phase in ALDOA-silenced or normal cells (PANC-1 and SW1990) treated with siATM or siNC

Fig 4: ALDOA participated in the regulation of the DDR. A qRT-PCR analysis of the knockdown efficiency of shALDOA. B Western blotting was applied to analyse the knockdown efficiency of shALDOA. C KEGG analysis of the differentially expressed genes from the RNA sequencing conducted on PANC-1 and SW1990 cells showed the core enriched signalling pathways in ALDOA-silenced cells versus NC cells. D GSEA was applied to analyse the signalling pathway enrichment in siALDOA versus siNC PANC-1 and SW1990 cells. E Cell cycle analysis via flow cytometry revealed obvious arrest in the G2/M phase. F qRT-PCR analysis of the expression of genes related to DNA repair

Fig 5: ALDOA promoted PLK1 activation by suppressing ATM expression. A and B The expression of ATM, phospho-PLK1-T210, PLK1 and ALDOA was determined by western blot analysis. C Dose-dependent effect of KU-55,933 treatment for 16 h on the phospho-PLK1-T210 and PLK1 protein. The expression of phospho-PLK1-T210 and PLK1 in PANC-1 or SW1990 cells treated with 10 ng/ml KU-55,933 over a time gradient. D and F PLK1 exerted significant regulation of the G2/M phase in cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry. E. The ALDOA group and the control group respectively were transfected by siPLK1 and siNC to assess colony formation capacity. G The expression of ALDOA, phospho-PLK1-T210 and PLK1 was determined by western blot analysis