Nuclear targeting of plasmid DNA in human corneal cells

Abstract

These results demonstrate that primary, non-transformed human corneal epithelial cells and keratocytes display sequence-specific nuclear import of plasmid DNA in the absence of mitosis. The small sequence that mediates nuclear localization of plasmids is active both in microinjected and cationic liposome transfected cells, and leads to increased gene expression. Thus, inclusion of this DNA sequence into non-viral vectors should improve the efficiency of ocular gene transfer in vivo.