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Induction of apoptosis in human colon carcinoma COLO 205 cells by the recombinant α subunit of C-phycocyanin

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Abstract

The α-subunit of C-phycocyanin (CpcA) was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. The recombinant CpcA inhibited the growth of human colon carcinoma COLO 205 cells. Typical apoptotic morphological characteristics, such as chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation, were observed in CpcA-treated COLO 205 cells by fluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, the apoptotic process was associated with the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio up-regulation, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, cytochrome c release, and caspase-9 activation. These findings indicate that CpcA induced the death of COLO 205 cells through the intrinsic apoptotic pathway.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the Doctoral Education Fund of Ministry of Education of China (20070353002), the Nature Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province of China (Y4080060), and the Youth Talent Program of Zhejiang Gongshang University of China (Q07–09).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Food Science, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310035, China

    Weihong Lu, Ping Yu & Jianrong Li

  2. Medical School, Jinhua College of Profession and Technology, Jinhua, 321000, China

    Weihong Lu

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  1. Weihong Lu
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  2. Ping Yu
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Correspondence to Ping Yu or Jianrong Li.

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Lu, W., Yu, P. & Li, J. Induction of apoptosis in human colon carcinoma COLO 205 cells by the recombinant α subunit of C-phycocyanin. Biotechnol Lett 33, 637–644 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-010-0464-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-010-0464-9

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