Compounds promoting delivery of genes

A process for activating gene transfer of a vector to a cell comprising the steps of:

• contacting a cell with a recombinant gene transfer vector:
• and
• administering a gene transfer activating compound to the cell, such that transfer of the vector to the cell is activated;
• wherein the gene transfer activating compound is selected from the group consisting of:
• wherein Q is nitrogen or oxygen, wherein each occurrence of R1 independently is H, CH3, CH2CH3 or a nullity, wherein R2 is C1-C18 alleyl, C2-C18 ether, C2-C18 thioether, C2-C18 secondary or tertiary amine,
• wherein A is
• wherein R3 is H, C1-C6 alkyl, or a heteroatom substituted C1-C6 alkyl where the heteroatom is oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur, wherein R4 is C2-C6 amide, or ═N-R5 where R5 is C7-C12 aryloxyl, C1-C6 hydronyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, or acyl, imidazyl, pyrazyl, thiazyl, or oxazyl, wherein X is H, F, Cl or Br, wherein Z is oxygen or sulfur.

A process for activating gene transfer of a vector to a cell comprising the steps of:

• contacting a cell with a recombinant gene transfer vector;
• and
• administering a gene transfer activating compound to the cell, such that transfer of the vector to the cell is activated;
• wherein the gene transfer activating compound is selected from the group consisting of:
• NSC73609, NSC82090, NSC101492, NSC102821, NSC106191, NSC108613, NSC109325, NSC128720, NSC143491, NSC259968, NSC373989 and NSC675865.

A process for determining the efficacy of a putative gene transfer activating compound to activate gene transfer, comprising the steps of:

• administering a test compound to a first cell;
• contacting the first cell with a first amount of a recombinant vector;
• contacting a second cell with a second amount of the recombinant vector, the second amount of the recombinant vector substantially equal to the first amount;
• measuring a gene transfer indicator in the first cell to obtain a test measurement;
• measuring the gene transfer indicator in the second cell to obtain a control measurement;
• and
• comparing the test measurement and the control measurement to determine the efficacy of the putative gene transfer activating compound to activate gene transfer.