Transfection of adipocytes by gene gun-mediated transfer

Studies of the gene expression, metabolism and intracellular signaling of a dipocytes have been hindered by the difficulty of transfecting cultured adi pocytes using standard methods. Here, we demonstrate the utility of gene gu n-mediated genetic transfer for transfection of differentiated 3T3-Ll adipo cytes. Transfection of adipocytes with the Helios(TM) Gene Gun yielded a tr ansfection efficiency that was consistently 5%-10% of total cells. We have used this technique to overexpress the transcription factor CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein alpha (C/EBP alpha) and transactivate an obese gene promote r-luciferase construct. This method has broad utility for transfection of o ther cell types that are resistant to transfection.