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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Rapid Development of Cell State Identification Circuits with Poly-Transfection
Published on: February 24, 2023
The destabilization of polyplexes facilitates intranuclear transcription efficiency
Tomoko Hashimoto1, Akio Kobori, Akira Murakami
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Fujishirodai, Suita, Osaka 565-8585, Japan.
Novel furin-cleavable polypeptides enhance gene expression by facilitating polyplex destabilization and transcription factor recognition within cells. This improves transfection efficiency through targeted carrier breakdown.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Molecular Biology
- Gene Delivery
Background:
- Transfection efficiency is often limited by intranuclear polyplex recognition by transcription factors.
- Understanding polyplex destabilization is crucial for optimizing gene delivery systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between intracellular polyplex destabilization and transcription efficiency.
- To develop novel polypeptide carriers for enhanced gene expression.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of furin-cleavable polypeptides (Fur-polypeptides) as gene carriers.
- Formation of Fur-polypeptide/plasmid DNA polyplexes.
- In vitro transcription/translation assays with furin.
- In vivo transfection studies in COS-1 cells.
Main Results:
- Cell-free systems showed time-dependent, sequence-specific expression upon furin incubation with polyplexes.
- Fur-polypeptide/plasmid DNA polyplexes achieved site-specific transgene expression in COS-1 cells.
- Carrier shortening in response to furin activity enhanced polyplex destabilization and transcription factor recognition.
Conclusions:
- Furin-cleavable polypeptides effectively destabilize polyplexes intracellularly.
- Enhanced destabilization improves transgene recognition by transcription factors, leading to higher expression efficiency.
- These novel carriers represent a promising strategy for advanced gene delivery.
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