Tracking the intracellular path of poly(ethylenimine)/DNA complexes for gene delivery
- 27 April 1999
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Vol. 96 (9) , 5177-5181
- https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.96.9.5177
Abstract
Poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) is one of a number of polycations that has been used successfully to transfer genes into living cells. Although PEI shows promise in the field of gene therapy, to date no rigorous proof of mechanism has been published regarding the fate of PEI/DNA administered for transfection. Here we show, by using fluorescent labeling and confocal microscopy, the paths of PEI/DNA complexes from endocytosis to gene expression. We found that complexes attach to cell surfaces and migrate into clumps that are endocytosed. The endocytotic vesicles grow in number and size and are occasionally seen to lyse. Most interesting is the fact that endocytosed PEI, whether administered with or without DNA, undergoes nuclear localization in the form of ordered structures.Keywords
This publication has 17 references indexed in Scilit:
- The size of DNA/transferrin-PEI complexes is an important factor for gene expression in cultured cellsGene Therapy, 1998
- Permeabilizing action of polyethyleneimine on Salmonella typhimurium involves disruption of the outer membrane and interactions with lipopolysaccharideMicrobiology, 1998
- Polyethyleneimine is an effective permeabilizer of Gram-negative bacteriaMicrobiology, 1997
- Nonviral Gene Delivery to the Rat Kidney with PolyethylenimineHuman Gene Therapy, 1997
- A Powerful Nonviral Vector for In Vivo Gene Transfer into the Adult Mammalian Brain: PolyethylenimineHuman Gene Therapy, 1996
- Polyethylenimine-Mediated DNA Transfection of Peripheral and Central Neurons in Primary Culture: Probing Ca2+Channel Structure and Function with Antisense OligonucleotidesMolecular and Cellular Neuroscience, 1996
- Mechanism of DNA Release from Cationic Liposome/DNA Complexes Used in Cell Transfection,Biochemistry, 1996
- A versatile vector for gene and oligonucleotide transfer into cells in culture and in vivo: polyethylenimine.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1995
- Low pH induced membrane fusion of lipid vesicles containing proton-sensitive polymerBiochemistry, 1987
- Permanent cell line expressing human factor VIII-related antigen established by hybridization.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1983