title: [Apoptin-induced apoptosis of human melanoma cells A375 via activation of caspase-3].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study whether apoptin gene induces apoptosis in human melanoma cells A375 via the activation of caspase-3.
  
  
  METHODS
  The human melanoma cells A375 were transiently transfected with recombinant pcDNAA3 plasmid, which contained apoptin gene, and the apoptosis was measured by DNA agarose electrophoresis, RT-PCR and flow cytometry. Caspase-3 relative activity was analyzed by colorimetric assay at various time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 48 h after transfection, the apoptin gene could induce apoptosis of human melanoma cells A375 in vitro and the mRNA of apoptin gene could be detected by RT-PCR. Caspase-3 activity began to rise at 24 h after transfection and reached the peak at 72 h.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Apoptin gene can induce apoptosis in human melanoma cells A375 via active caspase-3 and the activity of caspase-3 is time-dependent.
authors.affiliation: First Sanatorium of Dalian, Shenyang Military Command, Dalian 116013, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xian
authors.forename: Hong-li
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Hong-yang
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D053148:Caspase 3