Influenza virus hemagglutinin HA-2 N-terminal fusogenic peptides augment gene transfer by transferrin-polylysine-DNA complexes: toward a synthetic virus-like gene-transfer vehicle

Wagner, E., Plank, C., Zatloukal, K., Cotten, M. and Birnstiel, M.L. (1992) Influenza virus hemagglutinin HA-2 N-terminal fusogenic peptides augment gene transfer by transferrin-polylysine-DNA complexes: toward a synthetic virus-like gene-transfer vehicle. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 89(17), pp. 7934-7938. (doi: 10.1073/pnas.89.17.7934) (PMID:1518816) (PMCID:PMC49829)

Abstract

Complexes containing plasmid DNA, transferrin-polylysine conjugates, and polylysine-conjugated peptides derived from the N-terminal sequence of the influenza virus hemagglutinin subunit HA-2 have been used for the transfer of luciferase or beta-galactosidase marker genes to K562 cells, HeLa cells, and BNL CL.2 hepatocytes. These DNA complexes mimic the entry of viruses into cells, as they contain functions for (i) the packaging of the nucleic acid with polylysine, (ii) the attachment to the cell and receptor-mediated endocytosis with transferrin as a ligand, and (iii) the release from endosomes by using membrane-disrupting influenza peptides. The presence of these influenza peptide conjugates in the DNA complexes renders the complexes active in membrane disruption in a liposome leakage assay and results in a substantial augmentation of the transferrin-polylysine-mediated gene transfer.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Cotten, Professor Matthew
• Authors: Wagner, E., Plank, C., Zatloukal, K., Cotten, M., and Birnstiel, M.L.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
• Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
• Publisher: National Academy of Sciences
• ISSN: 0027-8424
• ISSN (Online): 1091-6490