Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2009 Dec;1(4):177.
doi: 10.1007/s12551-009-0022-7. Epub 2009 Nov 17.

Gene electrotransfer: from biophysical mechanisms to in vivo applications : Part 1- Biophysical mechanisms

Jean-Michel Escoffre  1   2 , Chloé Mauroy  1   2 , Thomas Portet  1   2 , Luc Wasungu  1   2 , Chrystelle Rosazza  1   2 , Yoann Gilbart  1   2 , Laetitia Mallet  1   2 , Elisabeth Bellard  1   2 , Muriel Golzio  1   2 , Marie-Pierre Rols  3   4 , Justin Teissié  5   6
Affiliations
Review

Gene electrotransfer: from biophysical mechanisms to in vivo applications : Part 1- Biophysical mechanisms

Jean-Michel Escoffre et al. Biophys Rev. 2009 Dec.

Abstract

Electropulsation is one of the nonviral methods successfully used to deliver genes into living cells in vitro and in vivo. This approach shows promise in the field of gene and cellular therapies. The present review focuses on the processes supporting gene electrotransfer in vitro. In the first part, we will report the events occurring before, during, and after pulse application in the specific field of plasmid DNA electrotransfer at the cell level. A critical discussion of the present theoretical considerations about membrane electropermeabilization and the transient structures involved in the plasmid uptake follows in a second part.

Keywords: Biophysical mechanisms; Electropermeabilization; Electroporation; Gene electrotransfer; Membranes.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Differents models of gene electrotransfer. Model i: a The electric pulse induces a macrodefect (2r > 20 nm) and an electrophoretically mediated DNA accumulation. b After the pulse, a free diffusion of DNA takes place across the long-lived macropore. Model ii: a DNA is preadsorbed with the plasma membrane by an interaction with cationic lipids, sphingosines. b DNA is transiently inserted in plasma membrane. c DNA is electrophoretically pulled through the permeabilized zones. d DNA leaves the membrane and enters into the cell. Model iii: a The electric pulses induce the membrane permeabilization. b DNA is concentrated near the membrane surface and pushed through the putative electropores by electrophoretic forces. c The mechanical interaction between the pores and the DNA driven by electrophoretic forces induces an adjustment of pore sizes. c DNA enters into the cell. Model iv: a DNA remains at the interfacial region when no pore is present. b Under high electric field, the DNA diffuses towards the interior of the bilayer after a pore is created beneath it. c Diffusion of the strand toward the interior of the membrane leads to a complex DNA/lipid in which the lipid head groups encapsulate the DNA. d After the electric field pulse, the DNA is translocated. e DNA enters into the cell
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Aihara H, Miyazaki JI. Gene transfer into muscle by electroporation in vivo. Nature Biotechnol. 1998;16:867–870. doi: 10.1038/nbt0998-867. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Bandyopadhyay S, Tarek M, Klein ML. Molecular dynamics study of lipid-DNA complexes. J Phys Chem B. 1999;103:10075–10080. doi: 10.1021/jp9927496. - DOI
    1. Barnett A, Weaver JC. Electroporation: a unified, quantitative theory of reversible electrical breakdown and rupture. Bioelectrochem Bioenerg. 1991;25:163182. doi: 10.1016/0302-4598(91)87001-W. - DOI
    1. Bier M, Hammer SM, Canaday DJ, Lee RC. Kinetics of resealing for transient electropores in isolated mammalian skeletal muscle cells. Bioelectromagnetics. 1999;20:194–201. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1521-186X(1999)20:3<194::AID-BEM6>3.0.CO;2-0. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Blackburn GM, Gait MJ. Nucleic acids in chemistry and biology. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 1996.

LinkOut - more resources