Efficient transient and stable expression in mammalian cells of transfected genes using erythrocyte ghost fusion

We have modified the erythrocyte ghost fusion transfection method (F.C. Wiberg, P. Sunnerhagen, K. Kaltoft, J. Zeuthen, and G. Bjursell (1983) Nucleic Acids Res. 11, 7287) by changing the resealing buffer to a Ca2+-containing ghost shrinkage solution, which considerably enhances DNA loading and transfection efficiency. In addition, we have demonstrated the generality of the transfection method by successfully transfecting different cell types, including lymphoid cells, obtaining both transient and long-term expression.