title: Use of adenovirus proteins to enhance the transfection activity of synthetic gene delivery systems.
abstract: This review focuses on the growing field of research concerned with the application of adenovirus proteins to improve the transfection efficiency of synthetic gene delivery systems. Several adenovirus component proteins influence cellular activity of the infecting adenovirus and the overall effect is a highly regulated and efficient infection pathway. It is possible that some of these proteins may be incorporated into synthetic gene delivery vectors, to Improve specific components of their cellular processing and improve transfection activity. Several adenovirus proteins have been introduced into synthetic vector systems. In particular, the penton base, which participates in cellular entry and endosomal escape of the adenovirus, shows an ability to increase cellular uptake and cytoplasmic penetration of synthetic systems. Similarly, hexon, the major adenovirus coat protein, is involved in the nuclear delivery of the infecting virus and can be exploited for enhancing nuclear targeting of synthetic systems. The possibility of using classical nuclear localization sequences from adenovirus proteins has also been evaluated. Finally, there is considerable interest in the use of adenovirus core proteins, such as mu, to improve properties of DNA condensation and unpackaging following the arrival of synthetic vectors in the nuclei of target cells.
authors.affiliation: CRC Institute, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK. robertc@cancer.bham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Carlisle
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D012377:Rodentia / Q000235:genetics; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016023:Integrins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D004247:DNA