Lurquin, Paul
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Research Interests
Short electric pulses of appropriate voltage applied to living cells, from bacteria to higher eukaryotes, create transient membrane pores allowing the passage of molecules as large as DNA. This phenomenon, known as electroporation, is the most versatile technique used to date to produce transgenic cells and organisms. For example, we have used this methodology to generate virus-resistant leguminous plants through electrotransformation with a vector carrying a viral coat protein gene. Yet, the mechanism of electroporation is very poorly understood. In fact, theoretical models presently available predict that DNA should not be able to cross biological or artificial membranes following an electric discharge. Further, thermodynamic and electrodynamic studies of pore formation and closure have been very limited in scope.

We have recently shown that electrical energy dissipation is a more important macroscopic factor than length of discharge and field strength in the electroporation of plant protoplasts. We think that this interpretation may be applicable to all biological membranes. However, these observations offer no explanations at the molecular level. This research will thus be extended to model membrane systems, such as giant liposomes, using theoretical and empirical frameworks. These investigations may also shed light on the encapsulation of the RNA world at the dawn of life.

Publications
Chowrira, G.M., V. Akella, E.P. Fuerst and P.F. Lurquin, 1996. Transgenic grain legumes obtained by in planta electroporation-mediated gene transfer. Molecular Biotechnology 5:85-96

Lurquin, P.F., 1997. Gene transfer by electroporation. Molecular Biotechnology 7:5-35

Chowrira, G.M., T.D. Cavileer, S. Gupta, P.F. Lurquin and P.H. Berger, 1998. Coat protein-mediated resistance to pea enation mosaic virus in transgenic Pisum sativum L. Transgenic Research 7:265-271