mRNA function after intracellular delivery and release

Journal article, 2018

Nanocarrier-mediated mRNA delivery and release into the cells with subsequent translation to protein is of interest in the context of the development of a new generation of drugs. In particular, this protein can play a role of a transcription factor and be used as a tool to regulate temporarily the genetic networks. The corresponding transient kinetics of gene expression are expected to depend on the mechanism and duration of mRNA release. Assuming the release to be rapid on the time scale of other steps, the author shows theoretically the mRNA-related transient features of gene expression occurring in stable, bistable, and oscillatory regimes in a single cell. Qualitatively, the results obtained are found to be fairly similar to those reported earlier for the situation when the release is slow. Thus, the features of the transient kinetics under consideration appear to be less sensitive to the duration of mRNA release compared to what one might expect.