GENE-TRANSFER INTO MAMMALIAN-CELLS USING HISTONE-CONDENSED PLASMID DNA

A recombinant histone (NLS-H1) containing both the SV40 large T antige n nuclear localization signal and the carboxy-terminal domain of human histone H1 degrees was produced in bacteria, NLS-H1-plasmid DNA compl exes, in the presence of chloroquine, mediated reporter gene transfer into cultured cells with similar efficiencies as plasmid DNA-cationic lipid (lipofectin) complexes, NIH-3T3 or COS-7 cells transfected with NLS-H1-plasmid DNA-lipofectin complexes expressed at Least 20 times mo re luciferase or had at least 2.5 times more beta-galactosidase-positi ve cells than those transfected with plasmid DNA-lipofectin complexes, Foreign gene expression was also improved by other DNA-binding protei ns and cationic lipid formulations, yet the greatest enhancement was o btained with complexes containing either NLS-H1 or calf thymus histone H1, Histone H1-plasmid DNA-lipofectin complexes were internalized by a greater number of cells than plasmid DNA-lipofectin complexes.