Enhanced nuclear import and transfection efficiency of plasmid DNA using streptavidin-fused importin-beta.

In order to enhance the nuclear import of exogenous genes, novel plasmid DNA/importin-beta conjugates, which consist of a biotinylated plasmid DNA and a recombinant streptavidin-fused importin-beta, were prepared. The spacer length between plasmid DNA and biotin and the number of introduced biotin were adjusted. The microinjection of plasmid DNA/importin-beta conjugates into the cytoplasm of NIH3T3 cells resulted in the nuclear localization of conjugates and the higher expression efficiency, compared to intact plasmid DNA alone. These results indicate that plasmid DNA/importin-beta conjugates would be an important tool to enhance the nuclear localization of exogenous DNA in non-viral gene delivery system.

Photoenhancement of transfection efficiency using novel cationic lipids having a photocleavable spacer.

New cationic lipids having an o-nitrobenzyl moiety as a photocleavable spacer between its hydrophilic and hydrophobic region were synthesized. To improve the efficiency of transfection with lipoplexes, after transfecting the cationic lipid aggregate/DNA complex, photoirradiation was performed. Photochemical decomposition of lipids would not only make the vector's membrane unstable to facilitate the fusion with endocytic vesicles, but also promote dissociation of cationic lipid-DNA complex, thus aiding the escape of DNA from the endocytic vesicles. Using a luciferase gene as a model, we show that UV irradiation of photoresponsive lipoplex-treated COS-1 cells induces a substantial increase in the efficiency of transfection. Herein, we show a novel photoresponsive gene delivery system.

Total syntheses of symbioramide derivatives from l-serine and their antileukemic activities.

Naturally occurring symbioramide, (2S,3R,2'R,3'E)-N-(2'-hydroxy-3'-octadecenoyl)-dihydrosphingosine 1a, was synthesized from d-erythro-dihydrosphingosine (amino part, 2) and (2R,3E)-2-hydroxy-3-octadecenoic acid (acid part, 3a), both of which were prepared from l-serine. Its diastereomer, (2S,3R,2'S,3'E)-1b, having an enantiomer of the unnatural-type acid part that was prepared from d-mannitol, and its corresponding (Z)-isomers, (2S,3R,2'R,3'Z)-1c and (2S,3R,2'S,3'Z)-1d, were also prepared. The antileukemic activities of 1a-d against HL-60 and L-1210 cells were appreciated by a MTT assay. None of the four symbioramide derivatives showed antileukemic activities in HL-60 cells. In L-1210 cells, all the symbioramide derivatives showed moderate antileukemic activities. Compound 1d had the most effective activity against L-1210 cells among the four derivatives. The data suggest that unnatural types of (2'S)-isomers of acid parts are more active than those of (2'R)-isomers.

Can nuclear localization signals enhance nuclear localization of plasmid DNA?

Nonviral vectors are safer and more cost-effective than viral vectors but are significantly less efficient, and thus, increasing the efficiency of nonviral vectors remains an important objective. One way to overcome this problem is by stimulating the nuclear localization of exogenous genes. Nuclear localization signals (NLSs) are known to be involved in the active transport of exogenous proteins and probes into the nucleus. However, stimulation of nuclear localization of plasmid DNA has yet to be confirmed completely. In the present study, we prepared plasmid DNA-NLS peptide conjugates and adjusted spacer length and number introduced in an attempt to increase transfection efficiency. In comparison to conjugates with unmodified plasmid DNA and short spacers, we found that NLS-plasmid DNA conjugates with covalent bonding by diazo coupling through PEG chain (MW 3400) stimulated complexation with the nuclear transport proteins importin alpha and importin beta. Evaluation of transfection showed higher expression efficiency with plasmid DNA-NLS peptide conjugates than with unmodified plasmids. However, evaluation of intracellular trafficking after microinjection into the cytoplasm showed plasmid DNA-NLS peptide conjugates only within the cytoplasm; there was no NLS-plasmid stimulation of nuclear localization. Our findings suggest that stimulation of plasmid nuclear localization cannot be achieved merely by changing spacer length or chemically modifying plasmid DNA-NLS peptide conjugates. An additional mechanism must be involved.