Microporation as a new efficient approach for transfection

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In this proposal, we are requesting the purchase of the Microporator MP-100 transfection system.  Based on preliminary data from both of our research group, this device should permit to introduce DNA or RNA molecules in an efficient manner in cells, which are refractory to such a procedure.  Numerous advantages can be cited to describe this apparatus such as its easy-to-use characteristic, its small size, its flexibility to different cells, etc.  This apparatus will be very beneficial to both B. Barbeau and C. Mounier's laboratories and will be used for projects related to the study of placenta development and hormone- and nutrient-based regulation of FAS and SCD1 enzymes.  These studies indeed involve human primary cells known as cytotrophoblast cells (placenta) and chicken embryo hepatocytes.  These cells are thereby difficult to easily transfer nucleic acids internally and early results from our laboratory suggest that the Microporator indeed provides the needed technology to achieve this goal in both cell context.  We believe that the success of these projects will therefore be assured by the acquisition of the Microporator allowing us to test our hypotheses in more physiologically relevant cell systems.  The data that will emanate from these experiments will greatly contribute in the understanding of the process of placenta development and gene regulation of liver enzymes.  However, these results also has a strong potential to benefit Canadians as the pathologies/disorders which are related to our research themes are important health issues in Canada, such as preeclampsia and other pregnancy-related disorders for the cytotrophoblast project and cancer and obesity for the studied FAS/SCD1 genes.