Gene transfer mediated by polyarginine requires a formation of big carrier-complex of DNA aggregate

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1997 Feb 13;231(2):421-4. doi: 10.1006/bbrc.1997.6125.

Abstract

Cationic peptide, poly-arginine, promotes transfection efficiency under a proper concentration. Using fluorescence microscopy, we observed the structure of the DNA carrier-complex in solution directly. Under low concentration of poly-arginine, small complexes were observed with fluorescence images like a blight light spot. This small complex (sizes are c.a. 1 approximately 2 microns order) had no transfection ability. As the concentration of poly-arginine became high, the complex grew into a big one whose size reached to a degree of 10 microns. Transfection was succeeded under that condition. The relationship between transfection efficiency and higher-order structure of the DNA carrier-complex was discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • DNA, Recombinant / chemistry*
  • Gene Transfer Techniques*
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Rats

Substances

  • DNA, Recombinant
  • Peptides
  • polyarginine