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Evidence for translation of rabbit globin mRNA after liposomemediated insertion into a human cell line

Abstract

THE ability to insert messenger RNA selectively into large numbers of differentiated eukaryotic cells and thereby alter the expression of the eukaryotic genome would provide a new and direct approach to the study of the molecular mechanisms involved in protein synthesis. Several procedures have been used to facilitate the cellular incorporation of administered RNA, including microinjection of RNA into Xenopus oocytes1–6 and into fully differentiated eukaryotic cells7,8, direct co-cultivation of cells with naked RNA (refs 9–12), and encapsulation of mRNA within erythrocyte ghosts followed by Sendai virus induced fusion of the ghosts to recipient cells in culture13. We describe here the use of liposomes for the selective insertion of functional mRNA into differentiated eukaryotic cells in vitro. We provide evidence which indicates that cultured human epithelial carcinoma cells (HEp-2) treated with liposomally encapsulated rabbit globin mRNA are stimulated to produce a globin-like protein.

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OSTRO, M., GIACOMONI, D., LAVELLE, D. et al. Evidence for translation of rabbit globin mRNA after liposomemediated insertion into a human cell line. Nature 274, 921–923 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/274921a0

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