Extracellular DNA Delivery to Cells
Author Information
Author(s): Vladimir A. Rogachev, Anastasia Likhacheva, Oksana Vratskikh, Lyudmila V. Mechetina, Tamara E. Sebeleva, Sergei S. Bogachev, Leonid A. Yakubov, Mikhail A. Shurdov
Primary Institution: Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Hypothesis
The extracellular DNA is involved in the transfer of genetic information and its fixation in the genome of recipient cells.
Conclusion
Extracellular DNA fragments reach the nuclear space within minutes and can increase in size from about 500 bp to 10,000 bp.
Supporting Evidence
- Extracellular DNA is quickly delivered to the cytoplasm and nuclear space.
- The size of DNA fragments increases significantly after entering the cell.
- Up to 2% of the haploid genome can be represented by extracellular DNA in the nuclear space.
- DNA fragments degrade rapidly in the absence of competitor DNA.
- Competitor DNA allows for the detection of undegraded DNA fragments in the cell.
Takeaway
Cells can take in DNA from their surroundings, and this DNA can grow bigger inside the cell.
Methodology
Human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells were used to study the behavior of extracellular DNA.
Limitations
The study primarily focuses on one cell type and may not generalize to all cell types.
Participant Demographics
Human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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