title: A novel gene delivery system targeting urokinase receptor.
abstract: Recombinant proteins that combine different functions required for cell targeting and intra-cellular delivery of DNA present an attractive approach for the development of nonviral gene delivery vectors. Here, we described a novel protein termed ATF-lys10 which facilitated cell-specific gene transfer via receptor-mediated endocytosis. ATF-lys10 was composed of the amino-terminal fragment of urokinase and ten lysines at the carboxyl terminus. Bacterially expressed ATF-lys10 protein existed in soluble form, and had antigenicity of human urokinase. Purified ATF-lys10 specifically bound to uPAR-expressing cells and formed protein-DNA complexes with plasmid pGL3-control. After neutralization of excess negative charge with poly-L-lysine, these complexes served as a specific gene delivery vector for uPAR-expressing cells. Lyso-somotropic compounds, such as chloroquine, drastically increased the ATF-lys10 mediated gene delivery efficiency. Our results suggest that the recombinant protein ATF-lys10 with the properties of DNA binding and tumor cell targeting represents a promising method for gene transfer and expression in tumor cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine of Ministry Education, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Xing-Hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Chun-Yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yun-Song
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D017931:DNA Primers; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D010957:Plasmids; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics*; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; C524898:PLAUR protein, human; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D011994:Recombinant Proteins