• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.54-59
• /
• 2005

Deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) is a divalent cation dependent endonuclease and thought to be a significant barrier to effective gene delivery. The only known DNase I-specific inhibitor is monomeric actin which acts by forming a 1:1 complex with DNase I. Its use, however, is restricted because of tendency to polymerize under certain conditions. We screened two random phage peptide libraries of complexity $10^8$ and $10^9$ for DNase I binders as candidates for DNase I inhibitors. A number of DNase I-binding peptide sequences were identified. When these peptides were expressed as fusion proteins with Escherichia coli maltose binding protein, they inhibited the actin-DNase I interaction ($IC_{50}=0.1-0.7{\mu}M$) and DNA degradation by DNase I ($IC_{50}=0.8-8{\mu}M$). Plasmid protection activity in the presence of DNase I was also observed with the fusion proteins. These peptides have the potential to be a useful adjuvant for gene therapy using naked DNA.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.476-482
• /
• 2000

In this paper, we report a new cationic lipid composed of L-lysinamide and cholesterol as a potent gene delivery vector. $3{\beta}$[L-Lysinamide-carbamoyl] cholesterol could self-assemble with plasmid DNA forming discrete lipoplexes. From atomic force microscopic images of the complexes, the size distribution was observed to range from 100 to 150 nm in diameter. The transfection efficiency of this amphiphile on different cell lines was evaluated as a micellar solution in the absence of the fusogenic helper lipid, dioleoyl phosphatidyletbanolamine (DOPE). Transfection experiments were performed as a function of charge ratio (lipid/DNA) and transfection time. Cytotoxicity and in vitro transfection efficiency of the amphiphile was demonstrated and compared with those of commercially available Lipofectin and polyethylenimine (PEI).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.30 no.9
• /
• pp.1273-1281
• /
• 2020

Due to the broad host suitability of viral vectors and their high gene delivery capacity, many researchers are focusing on viral vector-mediated gene therapy. Among the retroviruses, foamy viruses have been considered potential gene therapy vectors because of their non-pathogenicity. To date, the prototype foamy virus is the only retrovirus that has a high-resolution structure of intasomes, nucleoprotein complexes formed by integrase, and viral DNA. The integration of viral DNA into the host chromosome is an essential step for viral vector development. This process is mediated by virally encoded integrase, which catalyzes unique chemical reactions. Additionally, recent studies on foamy virus integrase elucidated the catalytic functions of its three distinct domains and their effect on viral pathogenicity. This review focuses on recent advancements in biochemical, structural, and functional studies of foamy virus integrase for gene therapy vector research.

• The Magazine of the IEIE
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.58-72
• /
• 2004

Smart sensors and biochip technologies have received a great deal of attention in recent years not only because of the enormous potential markets in the healthcare expenditures but more importantly because of its great impact on the quality of human life in the future. Collaborative research among BT (Bio Technologies), IT (Information Technologies) and NT (Nano Technologies) will bring us a new paradigm of the healthcare services. Examples include disease prediction based on the genetic tests, personal medicines, point-of-care analysis, rapid and sensitive infectious disease diagnostics, environmental monitoring for chemical or biological warfares, intelligent drug delivery systems etc. In this report, recent accomplishment in the research area on biosensors, DNA chips, Protein Chips and Lab-on-a-chips are reviewed.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2003.04a
• /
• pp.756-758
• /
• 2003

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.175-177
• /
• 2005

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2006

The development of functional polymeric materials for biomedical application has progressed on the basis of functionality, biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this paper we review the functional polymeric biomaterialsbased systems and propose a range of biomedical applications in the near future. These systems include the functional biodegradable polymers synthesized in our research laboratory, biodegradable polymeric materials, thermosensitive polymeric materials, cationic polymeric materials, non-condensing polymeric biomaterials, bio-polymeric DNA matrix for tissue engineering, and polymeric biomaterials for RNA interference (RNAi) technology.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.27 no.12
• /
• pp.1284-1289
• /
• 2004

Galactosylated chitosan-graft-poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (GCPVP) was synthesized and characterized for hepatocyte-targeting gene carrier. GCPVP itself as well as GCPVP/DNA complex had negligible cytotoxicity regardless of the concentration of GCPVP and the charge ratio, but GCPVP/DNA complex had slightly cytotoxic effect on HepG2 cells only in the case of the higher charge ratio and 20 mM of $Ca^{2+}$ concentration used. Through the confocal laser scanning microscopy, it is shown that the endocytosis by interaction between galactose ligands of GCPVP and ASGPR of the hepatocytes was the major route of transfection of GCPVP/F-plasmid complexes.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.17-23
• /
• 2005

Polyethylenimine (PEI) has been used as cationic polymers for efficient gene transfer without the need for endosomolytic agents. Various kinds of PEIs with different molecular weight were tested in order to investigate the effects of the molecular weight of PEI on the transfection efficiency and cell cytotoxicity. The ${\beta}-galactosidase$ expression $(pCMV-{\beta}-gal)$ plasmid was used as a model DNA. Complex formation between PEI and pDNA was assessed by 1% agarose gel electrophoresis method. Particle size and zeta-potential of complexes were determined by electrophoretic light scattering spectrometer. In vitro transfection efficiency was assayed by measuring ${\beta}-galactosidase$ activity. Cell cytotoxicity was determined by MTT assay. Particle sizes of the complexes became smaller on increasing molecular weights of PEI and N/P ratios. Surface potential of complexes was increased as the molecular weight of PEI increased. Transfection efficiency of $pCMV-{\beta}-ga1$ on the HEK 293 cells was greatest with PEI 25 K system but having the lowest cell viability. PEI with high molecular weight showed higher transfection efficiency and cell viability than PEI with low molecular weight.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.1098-1105
• /
• 2017

Vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein (VSV-G) has been widely used for pseudotyping retroviral, lentiviral, and artificial viral vectors. The objective of this study was to establish a potential approach for large-scale production of VSV-G. To this end, VSV-G was cloned with an N-terminal His-tag into Pichia pastoris expression vector pPIC3.5K. Three clones ($Mut^s$) containing the VSV-G expression cassette were identified by PCR. All clones proliferated normally in expansion medium, whereas the proliferation was reduced significantly under induction conditions. VSV-G protein was detected in cell lysates by western blot analysis, and the highest expression level was observed at 96 h post induction. VSV-G could also be obtained from the condition medium of yeast protoplasts. Furthermore, VSV-G could be incorporated into Ad293 cells and was able to induce cell fusion, leading to the transfer of cytoplasmic protein. Finally, VSV-G-mediated DNA transfection was assayed by flow cytometry and luciferase measurement. Incubation of VSV-G lysate with the pGL3-control DNA complex increased the luciferase activity in Ad293 and HeLa cells by about 3-fold. Likewise, incubation of VSV-G lysate with the pCMV-DsRed DNA complex improved the transfection efficiency into Ad293 by 10% and into HeLa cells by about 1-fold. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that VSV-G could be produced from P. pastoris with biofunctionalities, demonstrating that large-scale production of the viral glycoprotein is feasible.