No Barriers to Entry: Transfection tools get biomolecules in the door

Date: May 24, 1999

Relative Transfection Efficiency Transfection Reagents Table and Electroporation Systems Table

Model of the Effectene principle. The enhancer first condenses the plasmid DNA and the effectene reagent, non- liposomal lipid, subsequently coats the condensed DNA for efficient uptake into cells. Supplied by QIAGEN.

Cell transformation is an essential tool for molecular, cellular, and genetic research. Introducing specific molecules--DNA, RNA, drugs, and small molecules such as calcium--into the cytoplasm or nucleus can induce phenotypic and physiological changes that range from subtle to overwhelming. By examining the effects of the exogenous molecule on the cell, scientists can trace the pathways of a wide variety of protein synthesis, enzymatic, and immune system processes. Transformation of human cell lines in vitro has shed light on the causes and progression of autoimmune diseases, aging, cancer, and other conditions prior to in vivo testing of candidate drugs.

One of the most important categories...