Cationic carriers of genetic material and cell death: A mitochondrial tale

A. Christy Hunter, S. Moein Moghimi

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

    121 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Central to gene therapy technology has been the use of cationic polymers as vectors for DNA and RNA (polyfectins). These have been presumed to be safer than viral systems which, for example, have been found to switch on oncogenes. Two key polycations that have been intensively researched for use as synthetic vectors are poly(ethylenimine) and poly(l-lysine). A frequent stumbling block with these polyfectins is that long-term gene expression in cell lines has not been achieved. Recently it has transpired that both of these polycations can induce mitochondrially mediated apoptosis. It is the aim of this review to discuss the mechanisms behind the observed polycation toxicity including roles for little studied cellular organelles in the process such as the lysosome and endoplasmic reticulum.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)1203-1209
    Number of pages7
    JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta - Bioenergetics
    Volume1797
    Issue number6-7
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Jun 2010

    Keywords

    • Apoptosis
    • Bid
    • Endolysosomotrophic agent
    • Gene therapy
    • Gene transfection
    • Lysosome
    • Mitochondria
    • Poly(ethylenimine)
    • Poly(l-lysine)
    • Polycation
    • Surfactant

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Biochemistry
    • Biophysics
    • Cell Biology

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