G-Quadruplex Linked DNA Guides Selective Transfection into Nucleolin-Overexpressing Cancer Cells.

ABSTRACT: Gene therapy is a promising approach for treating tumors. Conventional approaches of DNA delivery depending on non-viral or viral vectors are unsatisfactory due to the concerns of biosafety and cell-targeting efficiency. The question how to deliver DNA into tumor cells efficiently and selectively is a major technological problem in tumor gene therapy. Here, we develop a vector-free gene transfer strategy to deliver genes effectively and selectively by taking advantage of targeting nucleolin. Nucleolin, a shuttle protein moving between cell membrane, cytoplasm and nuclei, is overexpressed in tumor cells. It has a natural ligand G-quadruplex (Gq). Gq-linked DNA (Gq-DNA) is likely to be internalized by ligand dependent uptake mechanisms independently of vectors after neutralizing negative cha

SUBMITTER: Xiang M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9609445 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature