[Liposomes as a carrier of genetic information].

Incorporation of genetic material into the bilayer lipid vesicles (liposomes) and the subsequent transfer of liposomal content into cells or protoplasts appear to be a promising technique for transfer of genetic information. The following three methods are most frequently used to incorporate DNA into liposomes lipid microinjection into aqueous phase, multistep treatment of the lipid suspension by ultrasonication, Ca2+ ions and EDTA, reverse phase evaporation. Viral particles, chromosomes, nuclei, viral nucleic acids, plasmids and chromosomal DNA can be successfully transferred into animal and plant protoplasts by the described technique. Successful transformation of a number of microorganisms (Neurospora, E. coli, B. subtilis, Streptomyces, Mycoplasma) with the liposome incorporated DNA has also been reported. Transformation frequency can be considerably increased by optimizing the conditions of liposome formation or of liposome-protoplasts interaction.