U.S. scientists
have developed a non-viral gene delivery system that is safer and more
efficient than currently used techniques.
To move a gene
from point A to point B, scientists and gene therapists have used either
a virus or a plasmid -- an engineered loop of DNA. However, viruses can
be infectious and while plasmids don't present such risk, they are not
nearly as efficient.
University of
Wisconsin-Madison scientists said their new non-viral gene delivery system
uses transposons -- stretches of DNA capable of jumping from one DNA molecule
to another.
Molecular biologist
Margy Lambert, who developed the technique, said it can be used in nearly
any application in which viral vectors can be used. "You can do a lot with
it," said Lambert, "and it is safer. Problems with viral vectors are extremely
rare, but the consequences can be severe."
To harness transposons,
researchers use an enzyme to ferry a desired DNA sequence from one DNA
molecule to another inside a cell. The enzyme can then be turned off to
stop genes from jumping.
The technique
is detailed in the journal Applied Biosafety.
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