title: Effects of DNAzymes and siRNA targeting AKT1 on the growth of human T leukemic cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  AKT1 is a member of the serine/threoine AGC protein kinase family involved in cancer's metabolism, growth, proliferation, and survival. It is a potential target for cancer gene therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, we used DNAzyme and siRNA technology to inhibit AKT1 expression and evaluated the effects of DNAzymes and siRNA as therapeutic agents to treat leukemic cells. We designed two AKT1 specific DNAzymes (DRz1 and DRz2) and siRNA to test their effects on the apoptosis of leukemic cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here, we showed that DRz1 could down-regulate the expression of AKT1 in both mRNA and protein levels, hence significantly inhibiting growth and inducing apoptosis of Jurkat cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results provide a significant insight into the potential anticarcinogenic action of DNAzyme against AKT1 which might be used as a valuable therapy to leukemia.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology & Engineering, the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology & Engineering, the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
authors.forename: Hang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology & Engineering, the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
authors.forename: Xiao Zheng
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology & Engineering, the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology & Engineering, the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002455:Cell Division; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D017931:DNA Primers; D021881:DNA, Catalytic / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D021881:DNA, Catalytic; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt