Involvement of a Rac1-Dependent Macropinocytosis Pathway in Plasmid DNA Delivery by Electrotransfection.

ABSTRACT: Electrotransfection is a widely used method for delivering genes into cells with electric pulses. Although different hypotheses have been proposed, the mechanism of electrotransfection remains controversial. Previous studies have indicated that uptake and intracellular trafficking of plasmid DNA (pDNA) are mediated by endocytic pathways, but it is still unclear which pathways are directly involved in the delivery. To this end, the present study investigated the dependence of electrotransfection on macropinocytosis. Data from the study demonstrated that electric pulses induced cell membrane ruffling and actin cytoskeleton remodeling. Using fluorescently labeled pDNA and a macropinocytosis marker (i.e., dextran), the study showed that electrotransfected pDNA co-localized with dextran in intr

SUBMITTER: Mao M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5363188 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature