title: Mitochondrial Gene Therapy: Advances in Mitochondrial Gene Cloning, Plasmid Production, and Nanosystems Targeted to Mitochondria.
abstract: Mitochondrial gene therapy seems to be a valuable and promising strategy to treat mitochondrial disorders. The use of a therapeutic vector based on mitochondrial DNA, along with its affinity to the site of mitochondria, can be considered a powerful tool in the reestablishment of normal mitochondrial function. In line with this and for the first time, we successfully cloned the mitochondrial gene ND1 that was stably maintained in multicopy pCAG-GFP plasmid, which is used to transform E. coli. This mitochondrial-gene-based plasmid was encapsulated into nanoparticles. Furthermore, the functionalization of nanoparticles with polymers, such as cellulose or gelatin, enhances their overall properties and performance for gene therapy. The fluorescence arising from rhodamine nanoparticles in mitochondria and a fluorescence microscopy study show pCAG-GFP-ND1-based nanoparticles' cell internalization and mitochondria targeting. The quantification of GFP expression strongly supports this finding. This work highlights the viability of gene therapy based on mitochondrial DNA instigating further in vitro research and clinical translation.
authors.affiliation: CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior , Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
authors.forename: Eduarda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Coutinho
authors.affiliation: CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior , Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cátia
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9207-1097
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Batista
authors.affiliation: CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior , Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
authors.forename: Fani
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior , Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Queiroz
authors.affiliation: CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior , Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5049-4518
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular / Q000379:methods; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005453:Fluorescence; D005780:Gelatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D050259:Genes, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D011108:Polymers; D012235:Rhodamines; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D005780:Gelatin
keywords: mitochondrial gene cloning; mitochondrial gene therapy; nanoparticles; nonviral vectors; targeted delivery