Figure 8.

Overexpression of MKK3 and MKK6 can promote apoptosis in BL41 cells. BL41 cells were transiently transfected with the pcDNA-MKK3(b)E (MKK3/E) or pcDNA-MKK(b)/E (MKK6/E) or the corresponding empty vector (vector) and the pIRES.hrGFP vector. Eighteen hours after transfection, dead cells, due to the electroporation shock, were removed from the cultures by centrifugation through a Ficoll gradient. Viable cells were then cultured at 37°C for 24 h. and the positive FL1-gated cells, that is, the cells transfected with GFP and either MKK3 and MKK6, were tested for apoptosis by assessing cell shrinkage.