LIPOSOME-MEDIATED GENE-TRANSFER IN FISH EMBRYOS

Liposome-mediated gene transfer was used to introduce large DNA constr ucts into zygotes of African catfish. The technique is based on the de livery of recombinant bacteriophage lambda particles (or DNA-protamine complexes) into the cytoplasm of target cells by negatively charged, large unilamellar liposomes. Dechorionated zygotes and early fish embr yos were treated with the transforming liposomes. Expression of the in troduced reporter genes during the first three weeks of the developmen t of the larvae was followed by measuring the activity of correspondin g enzymes. These assays have indicated very efficient DNA uptake into the embryos.