PROTEIN AMPHIPATHIC POLYAMINE COMPLEXES ENABLE HIGHLY EFFICIENT TRANSFECTION WITH MINIMAL TOXICITY/

Ternary complexes of plasmid DNA, histone H1 protein and amphipathic p olyamines (PAPA) were able to mediate the efficient in culture. Using both the beta-galactosidase and luciferase reporter gene systems, the transfection efficiency of PAPA complexes was comparable to that of DO SPA/PE cationic liposomes, considered to be a highly-efficient transfe ction reagent. Using three different assays of cellular toxicity (prop idium iodide, BCECF-AM and Trypan Blue), the PAPA complexes caused min imal cellular toxicity. These results indicate that PAPA complexes are useful transfection reagents for the study of gene expression and fun ctional in cultured cells.