title: Expression of GFP in the mitochondrial compartment using DQAsome-mediated delivery of an artificial mini-mitochondrial genome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We describe a novel strategy for expression of GFP in mammalian mitochondria.
  
  
  METHODS
  The key components of the strategy were an artificially created mitochondrial genome pmtGFP and a DQAsome transfection system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using immunofluorescence and a combination of immunohistochemical and molecular based techniques, we show that DQAsomes are capable of delivering the pmtGFP construct to the mitochondrial compartment of the mouse macrophage cell line RAW264.7, albeit at low efficiency (1-5%), resulting in the expression of GFP mRNA and protein. Similar transfection efficiencies were also demonstrated in a range of other mammalian cell lines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DQAsome-transfection technique was able to deliver the exogenous DNA into the cellular mitochondria and the pmtGFP was functional. Further optimization of this strategy would provide a flexible and rapid way to generate mutant cells and useful animal models of mitochondrial disease.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Jl. Veteran, Malang, Indonesia. eldi_7_98@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lyrawati
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trounson
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cram
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003868:Dequalinium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D004339:Drug Compounding; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D054629:Genome, Mitochondrial; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages; D008322:Mammals; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D010957:Plasmids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D008081:Liposomes; D009841:Oligonucleotides; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D003868:Dequalinium