Peptide-mediated delivery of nucleic acids into mammalian cells

Control of gene expression using RNA interference (RNAi) technology constitutes a method of choice for investigating gene function in mammalian cells. However, like most oligonucleotide-based strategies, the major limitation of interfering RNA is their poor cellular uptake due to low permeability of the cell membrane to nucleic acids. Several strategies have been developed to improve delivery of oligonucleotides both in cultured cells and in vivo. So far, there is no universal method for their delivery, as they all present several limitations. Peptide-based strategies have been demonstrated to improve the cellular uptake of nucleic acids both in cultured cell and in vivo. This chapter describes a new peptide-based gene delivery system, MPG, which forms stable noncovalent complexes with oligonucleotides and promotes their delivery into a large panel of cell lines without the need for prior chemical covalent coupling. Protocols are described for both adherent and suspension cell lines.