Conformational changes in HL60 cells during differentiation and apoptosis induced by genistein

Genistein can induce not only differentiation but also apoptosis in HL60 human leukemia cells. During the differentiation and apoptosis, the HL60 cells undergo some conformational changes. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) was employed to detect those changes. The results showed that the contents of DNA/protein and glycoprotein/protein increased. The α-helix of the membrane protein also increased. In addition, the C-O (H) stretching mode of serine, threonine and tyrosine residues of the cell proteins also changed. Those conformational changes suggest some mechanisms for how genistein affects the HL60 cells.