Polynucleotide aggregates enhance the transport of protein at the surface of cultured mammalian cells

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Abstract
It was known that polycationic polymers enhance the entry of macromolecules into cells. We now show that polynucleotides may have similar effects, when used as large aggregates. Poly(1-vinylcytosine):polyinosinic acid, an inducer of interferon production in human cells, can cause at 40 μg/ml a 75-fold enhancement of albumin uptake by sarcoma cells in culture. Most of this activity (85%) is related to the presence of aggregates retained by 0.65 μ millipore membranes. The prior finding that enhancers of albumin transport have increasing effects with increasing molecular sizes may thus extend to complexes of supramolecular sizes.