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Protein‐mediated DNA transfer into liposomes
Author(s) -
Lambert Olivier,
Plançon Laure,
Rigaud Jean Louis,
Letellier Lucienne
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2958.1998.01107.x
Subject(s) - biology , liposome , dna , vesicle , escherichia coli , biophysics , transfer dna , microbiology and biotechnology , membrane , biochemistry , gene , transgene , agrobacterium tumefaciens
The transfer of a foreign genome into a bacterium by means of phage infection is a very efficient but poorly understood process. To analyse the mechanism of phage DNA transfer at a molecular level, we have reconstituted FhuA, the receptor for phage T5 in the outer membrane of Escherichia coli , into unilamellar vesicles made of natural phospholipids. Cryoelectron microscopy studies showed that the binding of the phage to FhuA triggered the transfer of its double‐stranded DNA (121 000 bp) into the proteoliposomes. DNA was entrapped within vesicles with a diameter ranging from 70 to 150 nm. The DNA appeared to be densely packed, but its presence did not alter the morphology of the liposomes, suggesting no DNA–lipid interactions. These liposomes represent an attractive model system for studying the mechanisms of DNA transport and condensation. They may also serve as alternative vehicles for the transfer of foreign genes into eukaryotic cells.