Gene enhancers

The precise etiology of bipolar disorder is unknown. Thought to be genetically based, bipolar disorder is influenced by a variety of factors that may enhance gene expression. These include trauma, environmental factors, anatomic abnormalities, exposure to chemicals or drugs, and others.3-5 Neurochemical abnormalities in bipolar disorder may be caused by these factors, as discussed further in the pathophysiology section. 

Elfinger M, Pfeifer C, Uezguen S, Golas MM, Sander B, Maucksch C, Stark H, Aneja MK, Rudolph C (2009) Self-assembly of ternary insulin-polyethylenimine (PEI)-DNA nanoparticles for enhanced gene delivery and expression in alveolar epithelial cells. Biomacromolecules 10 2912-2920... 

Meyer M, Zintchenko A, Ogris M, Wagner E (2007) A dimethylmaleic acid-melittin-polylysine conjugate with reduced toxicity, pH-triggered endosomolytic activity and enhanced gene transfer potential. J Gene Med 9 797-805... 

S. Gottschalk, R. J. Cristiano, L. C. Smith, and S. L. Woo. Folate receptor mediated DNA delivery into tumor cells potosomal disruption results in enhanced gene expression. Gene Then 1 185-191 (1994). 

Feigner JH, Kumar R, Sridhar CN, et al. Enhanced gene delivery and mechanism studies with a novel series of cationic lipid formulations. J Biol Chem 1994 269(4) 2550-2561. 

Peptide modification of liposomes has been found to enhance gene transfer up to a 1000-fold (150). They have potential as an equally active and yet safer alternatives to the viral vectors. 

J.X. Yu, L. Liu, V.D. Kodibagkar, W. Cui, R.P. Mason, Synthesis and evaluation of novel enhanced gene reporter molecules Detection of /t-Galactosidase activity using F NMR of trifluoromethylated Aryl jS-o-galactopyranosides, Bioorg. Med. Chem. 14 (2006) 326-333. 

In regard to the spotlight essay that appears after this chapter, one of the lead scientists in the field ofmuscle enhancement gene therapy is H. Lee Sweeney of the University of Pennsylvania. He wrote a popular review article on this topic that appears in the July 2004 issue of Scientific American, which may be available in your local library. You may also purchase this issue on-line at www.sciam.com. 

Musde-enhancement gene therapy also interferes with fat deposition. How might the food industry respond to a population of consumers who could eat all they want and remain trim without much exerdse ... 

Enhanced gene expression can be achieved by the addition of a promoter to the cloned gene. For example, the lac promoter may be added upstream of the protein DNA sequence, giving rise to the expression of the protein in the presence of lactose and in the absence of glucose, (cf. operon hypothesis Section S.7). 

Ramezani, A., Hawley, T.S. and Hawley, R.G. (2000) Lentiviral vectors for enhanced gene expression in human hematopoietic cells. Mol. Ther., 2,458 169. 

Mathiesen, I. (1999) Electropermeabilization of skeletal muscle enhances gene transfer in vivo. Gene Ther., 6, 508-514. 

Song, Y.K., Liu, F. and Liu, D. (1998b) Enhanced gene expression in mouse lung by prolonging the retention time of intravenously injected plasmid DNA. Gene Then, 5, 1531-1537. 

Sperinde, J.J., S.J. Choi, and F.C.J. Szoka. 2001. Phage display selection of a peptide DNase II inhibitor that enhances gene delivery. J Gene Med 3 101. 

Fletcher S, Ahmad A, Price WS et al (2008) Biophysical properties of CDAN/DOPE-analogue lipoplexes account for enhanced gene delivery. Chembiochem 9 455 -63... 

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