Cells were washed with PBS and then incubated on ice in modified RIPA buffer, containing 150 mM sodium chloride, 50 mM Tris HCl, pH 7.4, 1 mM EDTA, 1.0% NP-40, 0.5% sodium deoxycholic acid , 0.1% SDS and 0.01% (w/v) sodium azide to lyse the cells. Protein integrity was ensured using a cocktail of protease inhibitors with broad specificity for the inhibition of aspartic, cysteine, and serine proteases as well as aminopeptidases (0.1 mM AEBSF HCl, 0.08 μM Aprotinin, 5 μM Bestatin, 1.5 μM E-64, 2 μM Leupeptin Hemisulfate, 1 μM Pepstatin A). Phosphatase inhibitors 1 mM NaF and 1 mM Na₃VO₄ were also added. Cell debris was removed by centrifugation. Protein concentration was determined by a modified Lowry assay using a commercially available kit. Protein concentration was adjusted to 2 mg/ml and then an equal volume of 2X SDS-PAGE sample buffer was added.