Figure 5From: Specifically targeting ERK1 or ERK2 kills Melanoma cellsPD0325901 or PLX4032 treatment of A375 melanoma cells triggers rapid reduction in pERK1 and pERK2 levels but these levels are restored after 4 days with PLX4032; accompanied by increased killing, and alterations in protein levels regulating survival and apoptosis. A. Kinetic changes of selected protein levels by immunoblot analysis altered by treatment with PD0325901 (1 μM) or PLX4032 (5 μM) for 2, 4, 8, 24, 48 hr of drug exposure (left side panel). B. Similar analysis of protein levels treated with PD0325901 or PLX4032 after 4 days of drug exposure (right side panel). GAPDH levels confirm equal protein loading. C. Relative killing percentages of A375 cells on days 2, 4, and 6 following exposure to PD0325901 (1 μM) or PLX4032 (5 μM). Percentage of dead cells as described in Methods section. Killing at 2 days by either drug (p < 0.01), after 4 days (p < 0.001) and after 6 days (PD0325901, p < 0.001; PLX4032, p < 0.01) based on 3 independent experiments. Statistical significance portrayed as follows: *p < 0.01, **p < 0.001. D. Western blot analysis of selected proteins mediating pro-survival (left side panel) versus pro-apoptosis (right side panel) in A375 cells exposed for 4 days to PD0325901 (1 μM) or PLX4032 (5 μM). GAPDH indicates equivalent protein loading.Back to article page