Figure 6.

Fluorescence microscopic evaluation of nuclear morphological changes (DAPI stained) in response to IGF-IIP3 DRzs.

Notes: Cells were transfected with 4 μg/mL (0.39 pmol/μL) DRz1, DRz2, or DRz1^inv (control), cultured for 24 hours to a final cell density of 2 × 10⁴, and subsequently stained with 100 μL/mL DAPI. Arrows indicate fragmented (red), hyper-condensed (white), and nuclei entering condensation/fragmentation (orange), which are further highlighted in the magnified pseudo-color insert. CLUT = relative intensity profile indicating the amount of nuclear condensation. Bar: 20 μm.

Abbreviations: DAPI, diamidino-phenylindole; DRz, deoxyribozyme (DNAzyme); DRz1^inv, inactive DRz; IGF-IIP3, insulin-like growth factor II promoter 3.