A new method of transfecting stem cells

Victoria, Australia -

Anyone working with genetic modification of cells knows that transfection can be pretty difficult task depending on the cell population of study. Issues with transfection arise when cells are very fragile, or when the specific cell type for one reason or another does not allow efficient integration of the transgene.

In a recent paper (Wagstaff et al. Histone-mediated Transduction as an Efficient Means for Gene Delivery. Mol Ther. 2007 Feb 27) a new method of transfection of cells was described. This method involves engineered histone H2B proteins so as to allow their binding to the DNA molecules being transfected.

The paper describes the transfection process as being energy and receptor independent. It will be interesting to see if this approach takes on the popularity of other similar transfection methods such as protein transduction domain mediated transfection.