Fig 2: No change was found in the protein expression level of the cadherin–catenin core complex. Protein expression level of E-cadherin, a-catenin (A), ß- catenin (D), and p120-ctn (E) in P0 control and P0 KD groups. Comparison of relative E-cadherin (B), p120ctn (C), a-catenin (F), and ß-catenin (G) protein expression in P0 control and P0 KD groups. GAPDH was used as the control.

Fig 3: Overexpression of PTPRZ1 regulated the phosphorylation of p120/β-catenin. (a, b) qRT-PCR and western blot were used to detect PTPRZ1 expression in each group of cells (n = 3). ∗p < 0.05 vs. control group (HNOEC cells). (c–e) qRT-PCR was performed to detect the expression of PTPRZ1, p120, and β-catenin in each group of cells (n = 3). (f) Western blot detected PTPRZ1, p120, and p-β-catenin/β-catenin protein expression in each group of cells (n = 3). (g) Western blot detected p-120 protein expression of cytoplasm or nucleus in each group of cells (n = 3). (h) IF detected the distribution of p-p120 and p-β-catenin in the oe-NC and oe-PTPRZ1 groups (hOMF cells, n = 3). ∗p < 0.05 vs. the OSF group (hOMF cells); #P < 0.05 vs. the oe-NC group (hOMF cells); scale bar = 25 µm; and the magnification is 400 times.

Fig 4: The expression of PTPRZ1, p120, and ß-catenin in tissues. (a) qRT-PCR detected PTPRZ1, p120, and ß-catenin levels in tissues (n = 3). (b) Western blot was performed to detect PTPRZ1, p-p120/p120, and p-ß-catenin/ß-catenin protein expression in tissues (n = 3). (c) Pearson correlation coefficient analyzed the correlation between PTPRZ1 and p120 and between PTPRZ1 and ß-catenin. (d) IHC was performed to detect the positive rate of PTPRZ1, p-p120, and p-ß-catenin in cancer tissues (n = 3). *p < 0.05; scale bar = 25 µm; and the magnification is 400 times.