U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            TALI, KATAV - BEN-GURION UNIV.,ISRAELitem
                                            Liu, Linshuitem
                                            MARINA, WOLFSON - BEN-GURION UNIV.,ISRAELitem
                                            JOSEPH, KOST - BEN-GURION UNIV.,ISRAEL
  Submitted to: Controlled Release Journal
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 6/2/2008
                                    Publication  Date: 6/7/2008
                                    Citation: Modified pectin-based carrier for gene delivery:  Cellular barriers in gene delivery course. 2008. Tali Katav, LinShu Liu, Tamar Traitel, Riki Goldbart, Marina Wolfson, Joseph Kost. Journal of Controlled Release. 130:183-191.Interpretive Summary: Millions of pounds of potentially valuable pectin are contained in low-valued pulp and peel generated yearly by the U.S. sugar beet and fruit juice industries; however, less than 1% of this pectin is refined for food or other uses due to the limitation of commercial markets. Finding new uses for this biodegradable polysaccharide is critical for the long term economic viability of U.S sugar beet and citrus agribusiness. In this study, modified pectin was tested as gene carriers for use in gene therapy. The resultant pectin derivatives formed complexes with plasmid DNA and were able to deliver the DNA to host cells with high efficiency.  This study demonstrated modified cationic pectin derivatives as novel gene delivery systems. The research and development of such materials will help to create new markets for pectin and eventually create new uses and value for sugar beet and citrus byproducts.
                                Technical Abstract: The use of biodegradable and biocompatible polysaccharides as DNA carriers has high potential for gene therapy applications. Pectin is a structural plant polysaccharide heterogeneous with respect to its chemical structure. It contains branches rich in galactose residues which serve as potential ligands for membrane receptors interaction. In order to make the anionic citrus pectin applicable for DNA complexation, pectin was modified to carry primary amine (Pectin-NH2, P-N), or quaternary ammonium groups (Pectin-N+H(CH3)2, P-Q), or a mixture of the both (P-NH2-Q). All modified pectins formed complexes with plasmid DNA as indicated by gel electrophoresis analysis. The size and morphology of pectin-NH2/DNA complexes were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Transfection experiments were carried out with human embryonic kidney cell lines (HEK293), using plasmid DNA encoding for green fluorescence protein (GFP). Transfection efficiency was analyzed by flow cytometry analysis, using FACS. P-NH2-Q was the most efficient carrier. Addition of chloroquine ("lysosomotropic" agent) to transfection medium substantially enhanced the HEK293 transfection. This indicates that endocytosis is the preferable internalization pathway. Pectin’s galactose residues contribution to transfection was examined by inhibiting pectin binding to membrane receptors (galectins), using galactose and lactose as competitive inhibitors to this interaction. Resulting reduction of transfection efficiency demonstrated the importance of pectin’s galactose residues to HEK293 transfection.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov