Efficient gene delivery to primary neuron cultures using a synthetic peptide vector system

A bi-functional, 31 amino acid synthetic peptide (polylysine-molossin) was evaluated for gene delivery to primary cultures of rat cerebral cortex neurons. Polylysine-molossin consists of an amino terminal domain of 16 lysines for electrostatic binding of DNA, and a 15 amino acid, integrin-binding domain at the carboxyl terminal. High levels of gene delivery were obtained with 20-30 muM chloroquine, with a synthetic fusogenic peptide at an optimal DNA: polylysine-molossin: fusogenic peptide w/w ratio of 1:3:0.2, and with the addition of low concentrations of Lipofectamine 2000 at an optimal DNA:polylysine-molossin:Lipofectamine 2000 w/w ratio of 1:3:0.5. With the best combination, > 30% of neurons strongly expressed the beta-galactosidase reporter gene, with no observable toxicity. DNA concentrations > 2 mug/ml were essential for efficient gene delivery. This synthetic peptide provides a safe, readily standardised and flexible DNA vector system well suited to ex vivo gene delivery to neurons for experimental and clinical applications. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.