Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026

10:39
A Suppressor Screen for the Characterization of Genetic Links Regulating Chronological Lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Published on: September 17, 2020
siRNA and DNA transfer to cultured cells.
Bagavathi Gopalakrishnan1, Jon Wolff
1Mirus Bio Corporation, 505 S. Rosa Road, Madison, WI 53719, USA.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|December 17, 2008
Summary
Transfection enables gene research by delivering nucleic acids into cells. This guide details cationic lipid/polymer methods for successful DNA and small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery, crucial for cellular process studies.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Transfection is a key non-viral method for introducing foreign nucleic acids into eukaryotic cells.
- It is essential for studying gene function and protein roles through overexpression or knockdown.
- Understanding transfection mechanisms and success factors is critical for effective research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explain popular cationic lipid/polymer-based transfection reagents.
- To focus on protocols and critical factors for successful in vitro DNA/siRNA delivery.
- To enhance the understanding of nucleic acid delivery into eukaryotic cells.
Main Methods:
- Review of cationic lipid-based transfection reagents.
- Review of cationic polymer-based transfection reagents.
- Discussion of protocols for DNA and small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery.
Main Results:
- Detailed explanation of popular transfection reagent types.
- Identification of critical factors influencing transfection efficiency.
- Guidance on optimizing protocols for nucleic acid delivery.
Conclusions:
- Cationic lipid/polymer-based transfection is vital for in vitro gene function studies.
- Adherence to specific protocols and understanding influencing factors are key to successful transfection.
- This chapter provides essential knowledge for researchers using these nucleic acid delivery methods.
Related Concept Videos
Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming
Nuclear reprogramming is a process of transforming one cell type into an unrelated cell type by epigenetic changes that alter the cell’s original gene expression pattern. Such epigenetic changes force cells to express a different set of genes, which play a significant role in inducing transformation into other cell types. Nuclear reprogramming offers applications in reproductive cloning for livestock propagation and regenerative medicine — developing patient-specific cells for injury repair.
Southern Blot
Agarose gel electrophoresis is very useful in separating DNA fragments by size. Running a DNA ladder containing fragments of the known length alongside the sample helps determine the approximate length of the sample DNA fragments. However, additional steps are needed to verify the sequence identity of the sample DNA fragments.
Denatured DNA fragments must be transferred onto a carrier membrane from the gel to make it accessible to a probe - a small ssDNA fragment complementary to the target DNA...
Denatured DNA fragments must be transferred onto a carrier membrane from the gel to make it accessible to a probe - a small ssDNA fragment complementary to the target DNA...
Transformation
Microbial communities are dynamic environments where cell lysis releases free DNA into the surroundings. Other cells can take up this extracellular DNA through a process known as transformation.When a cell incorporates this foreign DNA into its genome, resulting in genetic modification, the process is known as transformation. Cells capable of this process are termed competent. Competence can be natural, as observed in certain bacteria and archaea, or artificially induced in the...
Complementary DNA
Overview

