CYTOSINE DEAMINASE MODULATORS FOR ENHANCEMENT OF DNA TRANSFECTION

Compounds and methods are provided for enhancing or boosting the transfection rate or efficiency of mammalian cells by foreign DNA, such as bacterial plasmid DNA. Compounds, including natural products and inventive synthetic compounds can increase the effectiveness of uptake and incorporation of foreign DNA by mammalian cells, such as human cells, by suppression of DNA cytosine deamination, which is believed to be a mechanism by which these cells eliminate foreign DNA. Inhibition of the cytosine deaminase enzymes by compounds as described herein serves to provide more effective transfection of eukaryotic cells by plasmids including engineered gene sequences. Transfection can be used to study cellular processes, or to cure genetic diseases in human patients. The inventive materials and methods increase the efficiency and effectiveness of such transfection techniques.