transfecting primary cells - (Nov/27/2006 )

Why are primary cells considered difficult to transfect??Also, I thought Lipofectamine is used for transient transfections...but can any cell line that is transiently transfected if selected give stably-transfected cell line?

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q1: a good question; as I suppose that chemical transfection is somehow based on experience rather than on detailled explanations, one has to speculate about integrity or composition of the plasma membrane;

q2: LF is a standard, despite the fact (beside LTX) that it is a little bit cytotoxic, for chemical transfection

q3: theoretically yes but for each cell type and transfected gene(s) conditions have to be examined in detail

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