Apoptosis induced by (DIPP-L-Leu)2-L-Lys-OCH3 in K562 cells

Apoptosis as a mechanism of deleting cells from tissues plays an important role in physiological and varieties of pathological situations, especially cancer conditions. In order to search for tumor cells apoptosis inducers, the inhibition effects on K562 cells of N-phosphoryl dipeptide methyl esters were studied by MTT assays, and (DIPP-L-Leu)(2)-L-Lys-OCH3 was the compound which had the best activity. From the studies of the typical apoptotic morphologic changes, DNA agarose gel electrophoresis, and flow cytometry analysis, it could be concluded that (DIPP-L-Leu)(2)-L-Lys-OCH3 could induce apoptosis of K562 cells in a dose-dependent manner, and the IC50 was 22.66 mumol/L according to MTT assays.