Biotin-mediated delivery of exogenous macromolecules into soybean cells

We have demonstrated that attachment of biotin to a variety of macromolecules allows the uptake of those macromolecules into cultured soybean cells (Glycine max Merr cv Kent). Macromolecules that were nondestructively delivered into intact cells in large numbers (>10(6)/cell) by this technique include bovine insulin (M(r) about 5,700), bovine ribonuclease (M(r) about 14,000), human hemoglobin (M(r) about 64,000), and bovine serum albumin (M(r) about 68,000). It is hypothesized that this methodology may be useful for delivering antibodies, toxins, enzymes, and genetic material into living plant cells without requiring prior removal of the cell wall or infection with Agrobacterium.