Description

Various methods have been developed to express specific proteins in mammalian cells. The first method to introduce DNA to cells was calcium phosphateprecipitation. However, the transfection efficiency was very poor and there was a high rate of cell-to-cell variation. The second method introduced was the DEAEsephadex method. The transfection efficiency drastically improved, but still the method could not be used for all cells and required heavy metalions to enhance transfection efficiency. The cation liposome method was then developed, which proved to be a much better method to transfect DNA and RNA into cells. Other methods used are magnet bead, metal particle shoot, and electroporation. However, the cationic liposome method does not require any special instruments or special skill. Therefore, many researchers are using this method. HilyMax is a newly developed gene transfection reagent that forms a liposome to be used for highly efficient gene transfection to a wide variety of cells. In addition, in signal transduction research, HilyMax gives better signal because the reagent introduced in cells does not interrupt intracellular signal pathways (Fig. 3). Since serum in the growth medium does not interfere with the transfection using HilyMax, no exchange of the medium during the transfection is required. HilyMax does not contain biological components that might interfere with the transfection.

Principle

HilyMax readily interacts with DNA because cationic liposome(+) and anionic DNA(-) spontaneously form DNAliposome complexes. The overall charge of DNA-HilyMax complex is positive, so that the DNA-HilyMax complex is electrostatically bound on an anionic cell surface and introduces DNA into the cell by endocytosis.

Procedure

The procedure is extremely simple. No exchange of the media is required during the whole process,
because serum in the medium does not interfere with the transfection.