The role of intracellular free zinc and its chelation by TPEN was studied in Bowes human melanoma cells. The content of free Zn pools was determined by fluorescent probe Zinquin.
Depletion of zinc triggered apoptosis confirmed by cell blebbing, changes in mitochondrial tgransmemb rane potential and GSH levels, caspase-3 activ ation and nuclear fragmentation. Apoptosis was only partially prevented by cyclosporin A or N-acetylcystein, suggesting various independent but likely interrelated mechanisms participating in this process.