Transient and stable vector transfection: pitfalls, off-target effects, artifacts

Publication date: Available online 16 May 2017 Source:Mutation Research/Reviews in Mutation Research Author(s): Aleksei A. Stepanenko, Henry H. Heng Transient and stable vector transfections have played important roles in illustrating the function of specific genes/proteins. The general assumption is that such a platform could effectively link a given gene/protein to gained phenotypes, revealing the mechanism of how a gene works. However, in reality, increased studies have surprisingly noticed some unexpected results. In this review, we demonstrate that an assumption that empty vector-transfected cells preserve the cytogenetic and phenotypic characteristics, and represent the adequate control in transfection experiments is not universally valid. A DNA vector, a transfection reagent, expression of an antibiotic resistance (trans)gene, expression of a reporter (trans)gene, and selection by acute/chronic antibiotic treatment may evoke cellular responses that affect the biochemical processes under investigation. We exemplify a number of studies, which reported obvious genomic, transcriptomic and phenotypic changes of tumor cells after transient/stable transfection of an empty vector. To further address the common mechanisms of these unexpected findings, we will apply the genome theory of somatic evolution to explain stress-mediated system dynamics and the limitations of predicting the system behavior solely based on targeted genes. We conceptualize that the diverse experiment...

Source: Mutation Research Reviews in Mutation Research - May 17, 2017 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research