While experimenting in their laboratory, the research team combined these carrier proteins with therapeutic DNA, and attached them to cell membrane receptors and the nuclear import machinery of target cells.
In turn, according to the researchers, the packaged DNA moved into the cell through the cytoplasm and into the nucleus.
"Effective gene therapy is clearly the best way to treat heritable diseases. It's also an approach to other diseases where the environment or infection messes up our genes." said Dr. Gerald Weissmann, the Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal.
"The Australians have worked out how viruses identify our nuclear ZIP-code, and have delivered therapeutic genes to the same address. This work opens up a new era of pharmaceutical development," Dr. Weissmann added.
Source-ANI
ARU