APOPTOSIS-INDUCING RIBOZYMES

摘要

Ribozymes directed against metallothionein mRNAs have been designed and tested in vitro and in living cells. Induction of apoptosis in cultured human cancer cells was demonstrated using such ribozymes. Based on these developments, the invention features new ribozymes and methods of inducing apoptosis in a human cancer cell in vitro or in vivo. The method includes introducing into the cell a ribozyme that inhibits metallothionein expression.