Pros and cons of pDNA and mRNA transfection to study mRNA translation in mammalian cells

• Transfection of pDNA and mRNA reporters is widely used to study translational control.
• Aberrant transcription and splicing strongly restrict pDNA application.
• Kinetics of reporter production from pDNA and mRNA are reviewed.
• Both pDNA and mRNA transfection may induce immune response.
• Possible applications of mRNA transfection are discussed.

Protein synthesis in eukaryotes is subject to stringent control. The misregulation of translation of certain mRNAs is often a hallmark of many diseases, including malignancies and autoimmune disorders. To understand why and how it happens, it is important to investigate the translational control of specific mRNAs. In this case, one could use reporter mRNAs in order to identify cis-acting elements responsible for regulation. Here we overview plasmid DNA (pDNA) and mRNA transfections, their pitfalls and limitations, as well as some emerging applications for mRNA transfection.