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Review
. 2010 Aug;397(8):3173-8.
doi: 10.1007/s00216-010-3821-6. Epub 2010 Jun 13.

Mammalian cell transfection: the present and the future

Tae Kyung Kim  1 , James H Eberwine
Affiliations
Review

Mammalian cell transfection: the present and the future

Tae Kyung Kim et al. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2010 Aug.

Abstract

Transfection is a powerful analytical tool enabling study of the function of genes and gene products in cells. The transfection methods are broadly classified into three groups; biological, chemical, and physical. These methods have advanced to make it possible to deliver nucleic acids to specific subcellular regions of cells by use of a precisely controlled laser-microscope system. The combination of point-directed transfection and mRNA transfection is a new way of studying the function of genes and gene products. However, each method has its own advantages and disadvantages so the optimum method depends on experimental design and objective.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Schematic diagrams of two different transfections. (a) Stable transfection. Foreign DNA (red wave) is delivered to nucleus by passage through the cell and nuclear membranes. Foreign DNA is integrated into the host genome (black wave) and expressed sustainably. (b). Transient transfection. Foreign DNA is delivered into the nucleus but is not integrated into the genome. Foreign mRNA (blue wave) is also delivered into the cytosol, where it is translated. Hexagons are expressed proteins from transfected nucleic acids. Black arrows indicate delivery of foreign nucleic acids
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Micrographs of the rat hippocampal neuron lipotransfected with in-vitro-transcribed rat Gria4-GFP mRNA. (a) DIC image. (b) Fluorescence image before transfection. c, d, e, and f. Fluorescence images 2, 4, 6, and 8 h, respectively, after transfection. Note the time-dependant increases in fluorescence
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
An illustration of phototransfection. Laser beams (green flashes) create holes at specific regions of single cell (subcellular locations) and nucleic acids (red dots) are delivered into the local areas
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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