The ratio of unsaturated fatty acids in biosurfactants affects the efficiency of gene transfection.
An unsaturated hydrocarbon chain in phospholipid was reported to affect a phase transition and a fusogenic activity after mixing membranes, and consequently to achieve a high DNA transfection efficiency. We previously showed that a biosurfactant mannosylerythritol lipid-A (MEL-A) enhances the gene transfection efficiency of cationic liposomes. Here, we have studied the effects of unsaturated fatty acid ratio of MEL-A on the physicochemical properties and gene delivery into cells of cationic liposomes using MEL-A with three different unsaturated fatty acid ratios (9.1%, 21.5%, and 46.3%). The gene transfer efficiency of cationic liposomes containing MEL-A (21.5%) was much higher than that of those containing MEL-A (9.1%) and MEL-A (46.3%). MEL-A (21.5%)-containing cationic liposomes induced highly efficient membrane fusion after addition of anionic liposomes and led to subsequent DNA release. Imaging analysis revealed that MEL-A (21.5%)-containing liposomes fused with the plasma membrane and delivered DNA into the nucleus of NIH-3T3 cells, MEL-A (46.3%)-containing liposomes fused with the plasma membrane did not deliver DNA into the nucleus, and MEL-A (9.1%)-containing liposomes neither fused with the plasma membrane nor delivered DNA into the nucleus. Thus, it is understandable that the unsaturated fatty acid ratio of MEL-A strongly influences the gene transfection efficiency of cationic liposomes.
Inoh
Yoshikazu
Y
School of Pharmacy, Aichi Gakuin University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8650, Japan.
Furuno
Tadahide
T
Hirashima
Naohide
N
Kitamoto
Dai
D
Nakanishi
Mamoru
M
D000818:Animals; D002175:Candida; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008050:Lipid A / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008081:Liposomes; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*
D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D006017:Glycolipids; D008050:Lipid A; D008081:Liposomes; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C439671:mannosylerythritol lipid