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Uptake of Escherichia coli DNA into HeLa cells enhanced by amphotericin B

Nature volume 250, pages 323–325 (1974)Cite this article

Abstract

MAMMALIAN cells in culture take up small amounts of DNA, presumably by pinocytosis1,2. Unlike bacterial cells the mammalian cells do not seem to require a special state of competence for DNA uptake3; and since naked DNA of oncogenic viruses can successfully infect or transform cells4, at least some of the DNA taken up by the cells can be functional. In spite of these successful experiments, however, almost all attempts to achieve controlled DNA transformation in mammalian cells have failed. The failure has been attributed to two factors: (1) insufficient transport of added DNA by the pinocytic mechanism1; and (2) degradation of the foreign DNA in lysosomes5.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Microbiology and Medicine, Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Dermatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, 63110

    B. VIJAYA KUMAR, GERALD MEDOFF, GEORGE KOBAYASHI & DAVID SCHLESSINGER

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  1. B. VIJAYA KUMAR
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  2. GERALD MEDOFF
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  3. GEORGE KOBAYASHI
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  4. DAVID SCHLESSINGER
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VIJAYA KUMAR, B., MEDOFF, G., KOBAYASHI, G. et al. Uptake of Escherichia coli DNA into HeLa cells enhanced by amphotericin B. Nature 250, 323–325 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/250323a0

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