Gene delivery into cultured plant cells by DNA-coated gold particles accelerated by a pneumatic particle gun.

Transient expression of the β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene in suspension-cultured cells of tobacco was obtained after gene delivery with a pneumatic particle gun device driven by compressed air. Both the pneumatic pressure used to accelerate the particles as well as the distance between the point of release of the particles from the device and the location of the target cells could be varied. Efficiency of gene delivery was tested by accelerating pressure from 63 to 200 kg/cm(2) and distances from 5 to 15 cm. At 150 kg/cm(2) and 10cm, 618±49 blue spots of GUS-expressing cells were evenly distributed over the surface of the cell layer (3.5 cm diameter). The frequency of transient gene expression was estimated to be more than 1.2×10(-3), which is comparable to, or even higher than, that obtained by the gunpowder-driven device.