Fig. 2

mTORC1 activates c-Myc to promote HCC tumorigenesis. A String interaction of differentially expressed transcription factors upon methionine restriction. B Western blot analysis of indicated proteins in the presence or absence of rapamycin (20 nM) when HEK293 or SNU449 cells were grown in Medium with or without methionine. C, D Migration abilities of primary liver cells derived from c-Myc^+/+ and c-Myc^−/− mice under control or methionine restriction conditions. Quantification was shown in the right panel. D Sphere formation efficiency of primary liver cells derived from c-Myc^+/+ and c-Myc^−/− mice under control or methionine restriction conditions. Quantification was displayed in the right panel. E Immunoblot showing c-Myc protein level in the liver lysates of c-Myc^+/+ and c-Myc^−/− mice. F, G Tumour volumes and survival analysis of c-Myc^+/+ and c-Myc^−/− mice. n = 6 mice per group. Data are means ± SEM. Group differences were analyzed by two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test (C, D, F) or log-rank test (G) (**p < 0.01, ****p < 0.0001). n.s., not significant