Synthesis of galactosyl compounds for targeted gene delivery
摘要:
Cell-specific DNA delivery offers a great potential for targeted gene therapy. Toward this end, we have synthesized a series of compounds carrying galactose residues as a targeting ligand for asialoglycoprotein receptors of hepatocytes and primary amine groups as a functional domain for DNA binding. Biological activity of these galactosyl compounds in DNA delivery was evaluated in HepG2 and BL-6 cells and compared with respect to the number of galactose residues as well as primary amine groups in each molecule. Transfection. experiments using a firefly luciferase gene as a reporter revealed that compounds with multivalent binding properties were more active in DNA delivery. An optimal transfection activity in HepG2 cells requires seven primary amine groups and a minimum of two galactose residues in each molecule. The transfection activity of compounds carrying multi-galactose residues can be inhibited by asialofetuin, a natural substrate for asialoglycoprotein receptors of hepatocytes, suggesting that gene transfer by these galactosyl compounds is asialoglycoprotein receptor-mediated. These results provide direct evidence in support of our new strategy for the use of small and synthetic compounds for cell specific and targeted gene delivery. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Synthesis of bifunctional cationic compound for gene delivery
摘要:
Bifunctional cationic compound carrying trivalent galactosides as the cell targeting ligand and DAB-dendr-(NH2)(8) (generation 2.0) as the DNA binding domain was synthesized for gene delivery to hepatocytes. DAB-dendr-(NH,), (generation 1.0) conjugated with a hydrocarbon chain was used as a scaffold for the attachment of three galactosides, while the other hydrocarbon end was linked with DAB-dendr-(NH2)(8) (generation 2.0) through a carbamate bond. This design provided an effective entry for the synthesis of a polyamine compound having the cell targeting galactosyl ligand. Preliminary in vitro transfection results demonstrated that the bifunctional cationic compound could effectively deliver the gene into HepG2 cells. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.