Abstract: Objective · To explore the effects of ubiquitin protein ligase E3C (UBE3C) on proliferation and invasion in epithelial ovarian cancer SKOV3cells. Methods · Western blotting was used to detect the difference of UBE3C in epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines and normal ovarian cell lines. SKOV3 cells were transfected with si-UBE3C to knockdown UBE3C protein level, while ex-UBE3C plasmid was used to upregulate the of UBE3C. Cell proliferation was measuredCCK-8 assay and colony formation assay. Wound healing assay and Transwell assay were performed to investigate the effect of UBE3C on migration and invasion. Protein levels of β-catenin and c-Myc were also detected in different groups, which were closely related to proliferation and invasion. Results · UBE3C was highly expressed in epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines. UBE3C was successfully silenced with si-UBE3C transfection in SKOV3 cells. Inhibition of UBE3C significantly weakened the abilities of cell proliferation, migration and invasion. A reduction of β-catenin and c-Myc protein levels was also accompaniedUBE3C knockdown. Over of UBE3C with exUBE3Cplasmid promoted the abilities of proliferation, migration and invasion. Enhanced levels of β-catenin and c-Myc were also verified. Conclusion · UBE3C promotes proliferation and invasion of epithelial ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells. This might be to do with upregulation of β-catenin and c-Myc protein levels.

Key words: ubiquitin protein ligase E3C (UBE3C), ovarian cancer, cell proliferation, migration, invasion