title: Ultrastructural analysis of DNA complexes during transfection and intracellular transport.
abstract: We present a simple method based on transmission electron microscopy that allows investigation of the early steps of polyplex-mediated transfection without the use of labeled DNA. The ultrastructural analysis showed internalization of 0.2-1-micro m aggregates composed of 30-50-nm subunits. In addition, new details of the internalization process were revealed, suggesting an unspecific cell entry mechanism of large DNA aggregates.
authors.affiliation: Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Régis
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cartier
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Velinova
authors.forename: Cathleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lehman
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Erdmann
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reszka
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010957:Plasmids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D008156:Luciferases