A SUSTAINED, CYTOPLASMIC TRANSGENE EXPRESSION SYSTEM DELIVERED BY CATIONIC LIPOSOMES

A plasmid containing the reporter gene, chloramphenicol acetyltransfer ase (CAT), driven by the bacteriophage T7 promoter was co-delivered wi th purified T7 RNA polymerase by the DC-chol cationic liposomes into h uman embryonic kidney 293 cells to obtain a transient (2 days) CAT gen e expression. To prolong the expression, a T7 autogene which contains the T7 RNA polymerase gene driven by the T7 promoter was included in t he transfection complex as a self-amplifying regeneration mechanism fo r the polymerase. High level CAT gene expression was observed up to 5 days after transfection. This strong and sustained expression system s hould be useful in gene transfer experiments. (C) 1994 Academic Press Inc.