Faculty Intern: Genevieve
Research Mentors: Alison and Nelle
Faculty Sponsor: Cyrus Safinya
Project Title: TRANSFECTION OF CELLS WITH CATIONIC LIPOSOMES
Cultures of mouse L cells were used for transfection (the incorporation
of foreign DNA into cells). Plasmid DNA encoding B-galactosidase was mixed
with different types of liposomes (lipid vesicles) to increase transfection
efficiency. Different concentrations of liposomes to DNA were tried as well
as different transfection times. Efficiency was measured with an ONPG (o-nitrophenyl-B-D-galactopyranoside)
assay (ONPC turns yellow in the presence of B-galactosidase). Many problems
developed with the ONPG assay. Some of the problems were solved during the
internship but several more remain to be solved before this assay can be
used as an accurate and reproducible measure of transfection.
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