SHORT-CHAIN PHOSPHOLIPIDS ENHANCE AMPHIPATHIC PEPTIDE-MEDIATED GENE-TRANSFER

Addition of short-chain phospholipids to the gramicidin S-DNA-dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine complex enhanced up to 6-fold beta-galactosi dase expression in several cell-lines in vitro. Among the compounds te sted, the most potent in enhancing transfection were the dicapryl- and the dicapryloyl phosphatidylcholine. In contrast, no significant enha ncement of transfection was seen when short-chain phospholipids were m ixed with cationic lipids. Short-chain phospholipid and gramicidin S m ay act simultaneously on the cell membrane to enhance gene transfer, y et resulting in no toxicity. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.