| abstract |
PCT No. PCT/AU95/00505 Sec. 371 Date Apr. 16, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Apr. 16, 1997 PCT Filed Aug. 16, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO96/05218 PCT Pub. Date Feb. 22, 1996The present invention provides a method for introducing nucleic acids into cells. The method involves exposing the cells to a compound having formula (1), in which w is a nucleic acid, x is a peptide or amino acid, y is a linker having a chain length equivalent to 1 to 20 carbon atoms or is absent, R4 is H ir CH2O-R3; and R1, R2 and R3 are the same or different and are either hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, hydroxyl or an acyl group derived from a fatty acid having a carbon chain of 3 to 24 carbon atoms saturated or unsaturated, with the proviso that at least one of R1, R2 and R3 is an acyl group derived from a fatty acid, or to a compound having the formula (2): w . . . xyNHCH2CH2OR5, in which w is a nucleic acid, x is a peptide or amino acid, y is a linker having a chain length equivalent to 1 to 20 carbon atoms or absent, R5 is an acyl group derived from a fatty acid having a carbon chain of 3 to 24 carbon atoms saturated or unsaturated. The invention also relates to these compounds. |