Intracellular fate of liposome-encapsulated DNA in mouse liver. Analysis using electron microscope autoradiography and subcellular fractionation.

Transient expression of liposome-encapsulated DNA in liver after intravenous injection to rats and mice has raised questions concerning the intracellular fate of this DNA. Electron microscope autoradiography shows that at 10 min after injection the highest concentration of liposomal DNA which is taken up by the liver is associated with lysosomes and vesicles. The proportion of DNA associated with the mitochondria steadily increases for 1 h after injection, up to 48% of the exogenous DNA found in the tissue. Part of this DNA follows the subcellular fractionation profile of the mitochondrial matrix marker, malate dehydrogenase. In contrast, 14% of the liposomal DNA taken up by the liver is found in the nuclei at 3 min after injection, and this percentage decreases over a period of 1 h. These results permit us to establish the distribution of liposome-encapsulated DNA among subcellular organelles in liver at different times after injection.