Polynucleotides adsorb on mitochondrial and model lipid membranes in the presence of bivalent cations

The structural diversity of DNA–neutral phospholipids–divalent metal cations aggregates: a small-angle synchrotron X-ray diffraction study

“…) spontaneously form vesicles with a positive surface charge (Akashi et al, 1998;Inoko et al, 1975). The formation of large light scattering aggregates due to the interaction of polynucleotides with phosphatidylcholine vesicles in presence of Mg 2+ ions was documented more than two decades ago (Budker et al, 1978). Earlier microcalorimetric and ESR studies performed in our laboratory indicated the formation of a new phase due to DNA interaction with multilamellar and unilamellar dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) vesicles in the presence of Mg 2+ cations (Vojčíková et al, 1989;Vojčíková, 1990).…”

Neutral Liposomes and DNA Transfection

“…A different experiment was realized with the aim of clearing up the mechanism of crossing the hydrophobic barriers formed by protein-lipid membranes and the nature of bonds, providing adsorption of polynucleotides in the membranes (a mechanism unknown at that time). It was demonstrated (Budker et al, 1978) that polynucleotides are adsorbed by liposomes of PC forming stable complexes in the presence of Mg 2+ or Ca 2+ ions, but not in the absence of these ions. This result suggested that this interaction is due to the action of bivalent cations, which crosslink phosphate groups of polynucleotides with the ones of PC.…”

“…It is well known that neutral liposomes are generally non toxic (Koiv et al, 1995) and relatively stable in serum (Tardi et al, 1996), which makes them potentially interesting gene transfer vectors. Despite these strategic features, neutral liposomes (NLs) have not yet received wide attention in the context of the HGT, even though the researchers' initial interest for DNA entrapment was turned to neutral liposomes (Budker et al, 1978). Likely, there are two causes for this situation: the first, and more important, is the lack of positive charge that makes virtually impossible to realize an interaction stable enough between NLs and DNA; the second is the great leading role assumed by the cationic carriers, which have polarized the researchers' interest, leaving other alternatives aside.…”

The structural variety of DNA-DPPC-divalent metal cation aggregates: SAXD and SANS study

“…Different experimental methods were used to study physico-chemical properties of DNA+PC+ion 2+ aggregates: light scattering [2], ESR and microcalorimetry [3][4][5], turbidimetry and fluorescence spectrophotometry [6,7]. Electron micrographs [8] and small angle X-ray diffraction [9][10][11] confirmed the internal organized structure of aggregates.…”