Figure 9.

Evaluation of pro-caspase expression. (A) Western blot analysis. SMMC-7721 cells were transfected with 4 μg/mL (0.39 pmol/μL) DRz1 or DRz2. Procapsase-3 and -9 levels were assessed after 24 hours’ incubation via western blotting. A representative blot of three independent experiments is shown (n = 3). Densitometry analysis showed that the protein signal densities in DRz1-treated cells were lower than in control cells (no treatment). (B) Effect of IGF-IIP3 DRzs on caspase-3 or -9 activity in SMMC-7721 cells. The cells were kept in culture, treated with IGF-IIP3 DRzs for 24 hours, and subsequently analyzed for caspase-3 or -9 activity (n ≥3). *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001.

Abbreviations: DRz, deoxyribozyme (DNAzyme); IGF-IIP3, insulin-like growth factor II promoter 3.