Figure 2.

Validation of apoptosis induction on prodrug activation. Western blot analysis with antibodies against cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), full-length (FL) caspase-3, cleaved (CL) caspase-3, full-length caspase-9, full-length caspase-8 and β-actin. Cleaved PARP and cleaved caspase-3, as indicators for apoptosis, were only detectable in both prodrug and β-galactosidase-treated cells. Additionally, full-length caspase-9 concentration significantly decreased because of treatment with prodrug and β-galactosidase, whereas caspase-8 remained uncleaved. Equal protein loading was confirmed by detection of β-actin.