Fig 2: Downregulation of MCM2 weakened the stemness of HCC cells.a Representative images of tumor-spheres in the si-MCM2 and scramble groups of the indicated cells, corresponding histogram and corresponding sphere morphology percentage chart; b Representative images of primary and secondary spheres formation in the si-MCM2 and scramble groups of the indicated cells, with corresponding histogram displayed in Fig S2d; c Representative images of tumor-spheres formation in the limiting dilution assays of the indicated cells and the log-dose slope of the si-MCM2 and scramble groups. d, e Expression of HCC stem biomarkers, including AKT1, Epcam, CD133, MYC, ALDH1A1, BMI1 and SOX9, in the si-MCM2 and scramble groups of the indicated cells. f Representative images of colony in the si-MCM2 and scramble groups of the indicated cells, with corresponding histogram displayed in Fig. S2e. g The immunoblotting for Bmi1, AKT1, CD133, ALDH1A1 and Epcam expression in the si-MCM2 and scramble groups of the indicated cells, determined by Western Blot assay; Data are shown as the mean ± SD from independent experiments. *P < 0.05.

Fig 3: Down-regulation of MCM2 inhibit the resistance of HCC cells to Sorafenib.a Diagram of the construction of sorafenib-resistant cell lines; b Representative images of tumor-sphere for sorafenib-resistant and non-resistant groups of the indicated cells and corresponding histogram, under 5 µM sorafenib intervention. c Representative images of tumor-sphere for si-MCM2 and scramble groups of the indicated cells and corresponding histogram, under 5 µM sorafenib intervention. d Viability of si-MCM2 and scramble groups of the indicated cells under multiple concentrations of sorafenib intervention. e The immunoblotting for c-myc, Epcam, AKT1, SOX9 and CD133 expression in the si-MCM2 and scramble groups of the indicated sorafenib-resistant cells, determined by Western Blot assay; f Representative images of tumor-spheres formation in the limiting dilution assays of the indicated sorafenib-resistant cells treated with sorafenib (5 µM) and the log-dose slope of the si-MCM2 and scramble groups. g Representative images of colony in the si-MCM2 and scramble groups of indicated sorafenib-resistant cells treated with sorafenib (5 µM) and corresponding histogram. h Representative images of tumor-spheres formation in the limiting dilution assays of the indicated sorafenib-resistant cells treated with sorafenib (5 µM) and the log-dose slope of the ciprofloxacin (MCM2 inhibitor) and solvent groups. i Representative images of tumor-spheres in the ciprofloxacin (MCM2 inhibitor) and solvent groups of indicated sorafenib-resistant cells treated with sorafenib (5 µM) and corresponding histogram. Data are shown as the mean ± SD from independent experiments. *P < 0.05. sora, sorafenib.