There are several methods currently available for transfection of DNA into mammalian cells. These include transfection with calcium phosphate (1), diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-dextran, cationic liposomes, nonliposomal lipid compounds, and electroporation (2). Each of these methods has advantages and disadvantages; selection of transfection method is based on the cell types used and personal preference. Transfection using calcium phosphate is highly efficient and is the most cost-effective method; therefore, this is the method of choice for larger-scale experiments. It is also the most widely utilized method and has been successful for DNA transfection into a variety of cell types. Our laboratory has used calcium phosphate-mediated transfection to introduce β₁-adrenergic receptor (β₁-AR) gene fragments into SK-N-MC, C6, and W1 cells (3,4). The protocol for transient transfection of adherent cells with calcium phosphate will be described in this chapter. As with other transfection methods, the efficiency of calcium phosphate-mediated transfection is largely determined by the recipient cell type. An optimized protocol for one cell type does not guarantee success in another cell type. From our experience, lipofectin transfection reagent works well for transfection of β₁-AR gene fragments into adherent cell lines, but is much less effective for transfection of DNA into primary cultures. As noted by other investigators (5), we have applied FuGENE™ 6 transfection reagent, a nonliposomal lipid compound, to transfect β₁-AR gene fragments into 3-d-old neonatal cardiac myocytes with great efficiency (Fig. 1).

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