High mutation frequency in DNA transfected into mammalian cells

摘要: Abstract The lacI gene of Escherichia coli was used to score mutation in mammalian cells simian virus 40-based recombinant DNA vectors that provide for replication and selection both bacterial cells. Plasmid introduced into COS7 by DEAE-dextran transfection, allowed replicate the cells, then returned E. analysis. Mutants were observed at frequencies one several percent, compared with a spontaneous rate less than 10(-5). The lesions include large number base substitutions, addition deletions, duplications, more complex rearrangements, including insertion plasmid sequences originating host genome. We discuss possible sources high frequency its implications experiments involving transfer.