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Behzadipour Y, Hemmati S. Covalent conjugation and non-covalent complexation strategies for intracellular delivery of proteins using cell-penetrating peptides. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 176:116910. [PMID: 38852512 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic proteins provided new opportunities for patients and high sales volumes. However, they are formulated for extracellular targets. The lipophilic barrier of the plasma membrane renders the vast array of intracellular targets out of reach. Peptide-based delivery systems, namely cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), have few safety concerns, and low immunogenicity, with control over administered doses. This study investigates CPP-based protein delivery systems by classifying them into CPP-protein "covalent conjugation" and CPP: protein "non-covalent complexation" categories. Covalent conjugates ensure the proximity of the CPP to the cargo, which can improve cellular uptake and endosomal escape. We will discuss various aspects of covalent conjugates through non-cleavable (stable) or cleavable bonds. Non-cleavable CPP-protein conjugates are produced by recombinant DNA technology to express the complete fusion protein in a host cell or by chemical ligation of CPP and protein, which ensures stability during the delivery process. CPP-protein cleavable bonds are classified into pH-sensitive and redox-sensitive bonds, enzyme-cleavable bonds, and physical stimuli cleavable linkers (light radiation, ultrasonic waves, and thermo-responsive). We have highlighted the key characteristics of non-covalent complexes through electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions to preserve the conformational integrity of the CPP and cargo. CPP-mediated protein delivery by non-covalent complexation, such as zippers, CPP adaptor methods, and avidin-biotin technology, are featured. Conclusively, non-covalent complexation methods are appropriate when a high number of CPP or protein samples are to be screened. In contrast, when the high biological activity of the protein is critical in the intracellular compartment, conjugation protocols are preferred.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasaman Behzadipour
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran; Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Shiva Hemmati
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran; Biotechnology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran.
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Protein Transduction Domain-Mediated Delivery of Recombinant Proteins and In Vitro Transcribed mRNAs for Protein Replacement Therapy of Human Severe Genetic Mitochondrial Disorders: The Case of Sco2 Deficiency. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15010286. [PMID: 36678915 PMCID: PMC9861957 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15010286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial disorders represent a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders with variations in severity and clinical outcomes, mostly characterized by respiratory chain dysfunction and abnormal mitochondrial function. More specifically, mutations in the human SCO2 gene, encoding the mitochondrial inner membrane Sco2 cytochrome c oxidase (COX) assembly protein, have been implicated in the mitochondrial disorder fatal infantile cardioencephalomyopathy with COX deficiency. Since an effective treatment is still missing, a protein replacement therapy (PRT) was explored using protein transduction domain (PTD) technology. Therefore, the human recombinant full-length mitochondrial protein Sco2, fused to TAT peptide (a common PTD), was produced (fusion Sco2 protein) and successfully transduced into fibroblasts derived from a SCO2/COX-deficient patient. This PRT contributed to effective COX assembly and partial recovery of COX activity. In mice, radiolabeled fusion Sco2 protein was biodistributed in the peripheral tissues of mice and successfully delivered into their mitochondria. Complementary to that, an mRNA-based therapeutic approach has been more recently considered as an innovative treatment option. In particular, a patented, novel PTD-mediated IVT-mRNA delivery platform was developed and applied in recent research efforts. PTD-IVT-mRNA of full-length SCO2 was successfully transduced into the fibroblasts derived from a SCO2/COX-deficient patient, translated in host ribosomes into a nascent chain of human Sco2, imported into mitochondria, and processed to the mature protein. Consequently, the recovery of reduced COX activity was achieved, thus suggesting the potential of this mRNA-based technology for clinical translation as a PRT for metabolic/genetic disorders. In this review, such research efforts will be comprehensibly presented and discussed to elaborate their potential in clinical application and therapeutic usefulness.
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Koushki K, Varasteh AR, Shahbaz SK, Sadeghi M, Mashayekhi K, Ayati SH, Moghadam M, Sankian M. Dc-specific aptamer decorated gold nanoparticles: A new attractive insight into the nanocarriers for allergy epicutaneous immunotherapy. Int J Pharm 2020; 584:119403. [PMID: 32387307 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2020.119403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Recently, the main goal of many allergy epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT) studies is to enhance the allergen delivery through the intact skin. Therefore, applying new strategies for tackling this issue are inevitable. For this purpose, ten groups of Che a 2-sensitized BALB/c mice were epicutaneously treated for a 6-week period with the rChe a 2-GNPs-Aptamer, rChe a 2-GNPs-Aptamer + skin-penetrating peptides (SPPs), rChe a 2-GNPs, rChe a 2, GNPs, and PBS. Afterward, the serum IgE and IFN-γ, TGF-β, IL-10, IL-4, IL-17a cytokine production, NALF analysis, and lung/nasal histological examinations were performed. The present study results demonstrate that, EPIT in aptamer treated groups had a significant increase of IFN-γ, TGF-β, and IL-10 concentrations and a significant decrease of IgE, IL-4, and IL-17a concentrations as well as NALF infiltrated immune cell count compared to the non-targeted ones. In addition, SPPs led to more significant improvement of immunoregulatory parameters, especially IL-10 cytokine. Accordingly, the targeted-GNPs with DC-specific aptamers could act as an efficient approach for the improvement of EPIT efficacy compared to the free allergen. Moreover, the application of SPPs might be considered as a useful tool in achieving a successful EPIT with lower doses of allergen at a shorter duration of the treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khadijeh Koushki
- Immunology Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Abdol-Reza Varasteh
- Allergy Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Sanaz Keshavarz Shahbaz
- Immunology Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mahvash Sadeghi
- Immunology Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Kazem Mashayekhi
- Immunology Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Seyed Hasan Ayati
- Immunology Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Malihe Moghadam
- Immunology Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mojtaba Sankian
- Immunology Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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Kardani K, Milani A, H Shabani S, Bolhassani A. Cell penetrating peptides: the potent multi-cargo intracellular carriers. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2019; 16:1227-1258. [PMID: 31583914 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2019.1676720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) known as protein translocation domains (PTD), membrane translocating sequences (MTS), or Trojan peptides (TP) are able to cross biological membranes without clear toxicity using different mechanisms, and facilitate the intracellular delivery of a variety of bioactive cargos. CPPs could overcome some limitations of drug delivery and combat resistant strains against a broad range of diseases. Despite delivery of different therapeutic molecules by CPPs, they lack cell specificity and have a short duration of action. These limitations led to design of combined cargo delivery systems and subsequently improvement of their clinical applications. Areas covered: This review covers all our studies and other researchers in different aspects of CPPs such as classification, uptake mechanisms, and biomedical applications. Expert opinion: Due to low cytotoxicity of CPPs as compared to other carriers and final degradation to amino acids, they are suitable for preclinical and clinical studies. Generally, the efficiency of CPPs was suitable to penetrate the cell membrane and deliver different cargos to specific intracellular sites. However, no CPP-based therapeutic approach has approved by FDA, yet; because there are some disadvantages for CPPs including short half-life in blood, and nonspecific CPP-mediated delivery to normal tissue. Thus, some methods were used to develop the functions of CPPs in vitro and in vivo including the augmentation of cell specificity by activatable CPPs, specific transport into cell organelles by insertion of corresponding localization sequences, incorporation of CPPs into multifunctional dendrimeric or liposomal nanocarriers to improve selectivity and efficiency especially in tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimia Kardani
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran , Tehran , Iran
| | - Alireza Milani
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran , Tehran , Iran
| | - Samaneh H Shabani
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran , Tehran , Iran
| | - Azam Bolhassani
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran , Tehran , Iran
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Papadopoulou LC, Ingendoh-Tsakmakidis A, Mpoutoureli CN, Tzikalou LD, Spyridou ED, Gavriilidis GI, Kaiafas GC, Ntaska AT, Vlachaki E, Panayotou G, Samiotaki M, Tsiftsoglou AS. Production and Transduction of a Human Recombinant β-Globin Chain into Proerythroid K-562 Cells To Replace Missing Endogenous β-Globin. Mol Pharm 2018; 15:5665-5677. [PMID: 30375878 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.8b00857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Protein replacement therapy (PRT) has been applied to treat severe monogenetic/metabolic disorders characterized by a protein deficiency. In disorders where an intracellular protein is missing, PRT is not easily feasible due to the inability of proteins to cross the cell membrane. Instead, gene therapy has been applied, although still with limited success. β-Thalassemias are severe congenital hemoglobinopathies, characterized by deficiency or reduced production of the adult β-globin chain. The resulting imbalance of α-/β-globin chains of adult hemoglobin (α2β2) leads to precipitation of unpaired α-globin chains and, eventually, to defective erythropoiesis. Since protein transduction domain (PTD) technology has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach, we produced a human recombinant β-globin chain in fusion with the TAT peptide and successfully transduced it into human proerythroid K-562 cells, deficient in mature β-globin chain. Notably, the produced human recombinant β-globin chain without the TAT peptide, used as internal negative control, failed to be transduced into K-562 cells under similar conditions. In silico studies complemented by SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, co-immunoprecipitation and LC-MS/MS analysis indicated that the transduced recombinant fusion TAT-β-globin protein interacts with the endogenous native α-like globins to form hemoglobin α2β2-like tetramers to a limited extent. Our findings provide evidence that recombinant TAT-β-globin is transmissible into proerythroid K-562 cells and can be potentially considered as an alternative protein therapeutic approach for β-thalassemias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lefkothea C Papadopoulou
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences , Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , Thessaloniki 54124 , Macedonia , Greece
| | - Alexandra Ingendoh-Tsakmakidis
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences , Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , Thessaloniki 54124 , Macedonia , Greece
| | - Christina N Mpoutoureli
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences , Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , Thessaloniki 54124 , Macedonia , Greece
| | - Lamprini D Tzikalou
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences , Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , Thessaloniki 54124 , Macedonia , Greece
| | - Efthymia D Spyridou
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences , Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , Thessaloniki 54124 , Macedonia , Greece
| | - George I Gavriilidis
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences , Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , Thessaloniki 54124 , Macedonia , Greece
| | - Georgios C Kaiafas
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences , Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , Thessaloniki 54124 , Macedonia , Greece
| | - Agoritsa T Ntaska
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences , Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , Thessaloniki 54124 , Macedonia , Greece
| | - Efthymia Vlachaki
- Adult Thalassemia Unit , Hippokrateion General Hospital , Thessaloniki 54642 , Greece
| | | | | | - Asterios S Tsiftsoglou
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences , Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , Thessaloniki 54124 , Macedonia , Greece
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Developments in Cell-Penetrating Peptides as Antiviral Agents and as Vehicles for Delivery of Peptide Nucleic Acid Targeting Hepadnaviral Replication Pathway. Biomolecules 2018; 8:biom8030055. [PMID: 30013006 PMCID: PMC6165058 DOI: 10.3390/biom8030055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative therapeutic approaches against chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection need to be urgently developed because current therapies are only virostatic. In this context, cell penetration peptides (CPPs) and their Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNAs) cargoes appear as a promising novel class of biologically active compounds. In this review we summarize different in vitro and in vivo studies, exploring the potential of CPPs as vehicles for intracellular delivery of PNAs targeting hepadnaviral replication. Thus, studies conducted in the duck HBV (DHBV) infection model showed that conjugation of (D-Arg)8 CPP to PNA targeting viral epsilon (ε) were able to efficiently inhibit viral replication in vivo following intravenous administration to ducklings. Unexpectedly, some CPPs, (D-Arg)8 and Decanoyl-(D-Arg)8, alone displayed potent antiviral effect, altering late stages of DHBV and HBV morphogenesis. Such antiviral effects of CPPs may affect the sequence-specificity of CPP-PNA conjugates. By contrast, PNA conjugated to (D-Lys)4 inhibited hepadnaviral replication without compromising sequence specificity. Interestingly, Lactose-modified CPP mediated the delivery of anti-HBV PNA to human hepatoma cells HepaRG, thus improving its antiviral activity. In light of these promising data, we believe that future studies will open new perspectives for translation of CPPs and CPP-PNA based technology to therapy of chronic hepatitis B.
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Zhang J, Guo J, Qin X, Wang B, Zhang L, Wang Y, Gan W, Pandolfi PP, Chen W, Wei W. The p85 isoform of the kinase S6K1 functions as a secreted oncoprotein to facilitate cell migration and tumor growth. Sci Signal 2018; 11:11/523/eaao1052. [PMID: 29588411 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aao1052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cells can remodel surrounding microenvironments to facilitate cell growth, invasion, and migration by secreting proteins that educate surrounding stromal cells. We report that p85S6K1, the longest isoform of S6K (ribosomal protein S6 kinase), but not the shorter isoform p70S6K1 or p56S6K2, was secreted from cancer cells through its HIV TAT-like, N-terminal six-arginine motif. The exogenously produced p85S6K1 protein entered cultured transformed and nontransformed cells to promote or confer malignant behaviors, leading to increased cell growth and migration. When injected into mice, the p85S6K1 protein enhanced the growth of xenografted breast cancer cells and lung metastasis. Hence, our findings reveal a role for p85S6K1 as a secreted oncogenic kinase and provide a mechanism by which cancer cells remodel their microenvironment by transforming the surrounding cells to drive tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianjun Zhang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China.,Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Jianping Guo
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Xing Qin
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Linli Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Yingnan Wang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenjian Gan
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Pier Paolo Pandolfi
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Wantao Chen
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China.
| | - Wenyi Wei
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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Pepe D, Carvalho VF, McCall M, de Lemos DP, Lopes LB. Transportan in nanocarriers improves skin localization and antitumor activity of paclitaxel. Int J Nanomedicine 2016; 11:2009-19. [PMID: 27274232 PMCID: PMC4869655 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s97331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, the ability of nanocarriers containing protein transduction domains (PTDs) of various classes to improve cutaneous paclitaxel delivery and efficacy in skin tumor models was evaluated. Microemulsions (MEs) were prepared by mixing a surfactant blend (polyoxyethylene 10 oleoyl ether, ethanol and propylene glycol), monocaprylin, and water. The PTD transportan (ME-T), penetratin (ME-P), or TAT (ME-TAT) was added at a concentration of 1 mM to the plain ME. All MEs displayed nanometric size (32.3–40.7 nm) and slight positive zeta potential (+4.1 mV to +6.8 mV). Skin penetration of paclitaxel from the MEs was assessed for 1–12 hours using porcine skin and Franz diffusion cells. Among the PTD-containing formulations, paclitaxel skin (stratum corneum + epidermis and dermis) penetration at 12 hours was maximized with ME-T, whereas ME-TAT provided the lowest penetration (1.6-fold less). This is consistent with the stronger ability of ME-T to increase transepidermal water loss (2.4-fold compared to water) and tissue permeability. The influence of PTD addition on the ME irritation potential was assessed by measuring interleukin-1α expression and viability of bioengineered skin equivalents. A 1.5- to 1.8-fold increase in interleukin-1α expression was induced by ME-T compared to the other formulations, but this effect was less pronounced (5.8-fold) than that mediated by the moderate irritant Triton. Because ME-T maximized paclitaxel cutaneous localization while being safer than Triton, its efficacy was assessed against basal cell carcinoma cells and a bioengineered three-dimensional melanoma model. Paclitaxel-containing ME-T reduced cells and tissue viability by twofold compared to drug solutions, suggesting the potential clinical usefulness of the formulation for the treatment of cutaneous tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Pepe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Vanessa Fm Carvalho
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Melissa McCall
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Débora P de Lemos
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luciana B Lopes
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, NY, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Ng KK, Motoda Y, Watanabe S, Sofiman Othman A, Kigawa T, Kodama Y, Numata K. Intracellular Delivery of Proteins via Fusion Peptides in Intact Plants. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0154081. [PMID: 27100681 PMCID: PMC4839658 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2016] [Accepted: 04/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In current plant biotechnology, the introduction of exogenous DNA encoding desired traits is the most common approach used to modify plants. However, general plant transformation methods can cause random integration of exogenous DNA into the plant genome. To avoid these events, alternative methods, such as a direct protein delivery system, are needed to modify the plant. Although there have been reports of the delivery of proteins into cultured plant cells, there are currently no methods for the direct delivery of proteins into intact plants, owing to their hierarchical structures. Here, we demonstrate the efficient fusion-peptide-based delivery of proteins into intact Arabidopsis thaliana. Bovine serum albumin (BSA, 66 kDa) was selected as a model protein to optimize conditions for delivery into the cytosol. The general applicability of our method to large protein cargo was also demonstrated by the delivery of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH, 150 kDa) into the cytosol. The compatibility of the fusion peptide system with the delivery of proteins to specific cellular organelles was also demonstrated using the fluorescent protein Citrine (27 kDa) conjugated to either a nuclear localization signal (NLS) or a peroxisomal targeting signal (PTS). In conclusion, our designed fusion peptide system can deliver proteins with a wide range of molecular weights (27 to 150 kDa) into the cells of intact A. thaliana without interfering with the organelle-targeting peptide conjugated to the protein. We expect that this efficient protein delivery system will be a powerful tool in plant biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiaw Kiaw Ng
- Enzyme Research Team, Biomass Engineering Research Division, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama, Japan
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Yoko Motoda
- Enzyme Research Team, Biomass Engineering Research Division, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama, Japan
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, RIKEN Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC), Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Satoru Watanabe
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, RIKEN Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC), Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | | | - Takanori Kigawa
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, RIKEN Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC), Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
- Department of Computational Intelligence and Systems Science, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yutaka Kodama
- Center for Bioscience Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, Utsunomiya, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Keiji Numata
- Enzyme Research Team, Biomass Engineering Research Division, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama, Japan
- * E-mail:
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Zhang D, Wang J, Xu D. Cell-penetrating peptides as noninvasive transmembrane vectors for the development of novel multifunctional drug-delivery systems. J Control Release 2016; 229:130-139. [PMID: 26993425 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Revised: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Unique characteristics, such as nontoxicity and rapid cellular internalization, allow the cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) to transport hydrophilic macromolecules into cells, thus, enabling them to execute biological functions. However, some CPPs have limitations due to nonspecificity and easy proteolysis. To overcome such defects, the CPP amino acid sequence can be modified, replaced, and reconstructed for optimization. CPPs can also be used in combination with other drug vectors, fused with their preponderances to create novel multifunctional drug-delivery systems that increase the stability during blood circulation, and also develop novel preparations capable of targeted delivery, along with sustainable and controllable release. Further improvements in CPP structure can facilitate the penetration of macromolecules into diverse biomembrane structures, such as the blood brain barrier, gastroenteric mucosa, and skin dermis. The ability of CPP to act as transmembrane vectors improves the clinical application of some biomolecules to treat central nervous system diseases, increase oral bioavailability, and develop percutaneous-delivery dosage form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongdong Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, PR China; Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, PR China
| | - Jiaxi Wang
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, PR China
| | - Donggang Xu
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, PR China; Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, PR China.
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Abstract
Transdermal delivery of drugs, a compelling route of systemic drug delivery, provides painless, reliable, targeted, efficient and cost effective therapeutic regimen for patients. However, its use is limited by skin barrier especially the stratum corneum barrier. Moreover, transdermal delivery of macromolecules remains a challenge. Naturally, varieties of physical methods, chemical enhancers and drug carriers have been used to counteract this limitation. Recently, transdermal peptides discovered as safer, more efficient and more specific enhancers could promote the delivery of macromolecules across the skin. Herein, the underlying transdermal peptides are included. Subsequently, we have discussed typical applications and the possible mechanism of two groups of biologically inspired transdermal peptide enhancers, namely cell penetration peptides and transdermal enhanced peptides.
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Ndeboko B, Lemamy GJ, Nielsen PE, Cova L. Therapeutic Potential of Cell Penetrating Peptides (CPPs) and Cationic Polymers for Chronic Hepatitis B. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16:28230-41. [PMID: 26633356 PMCID: PMC4691041 DOI: 10.3390/ijms161226094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Revised: 11/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major health problem worldwide. Because current anti-HBV treatments are only virostatic, there is an urgent need for development of alternative antiviral approaches. In this context, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) and cationic polymers, such as chitosan (CS), appear of particular interest as nonviral vectors due to their capacity to facilitate cellular delivery of bioactive cargoes including peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) or DNA vaccines. We have investigated the ability of a PNA conjugated to different CPPs to inhibit the replication of duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV), a reference model for human HBV infection. The in vivo administration of PNA-CPP conjugates to neonatal ducklings showed that they reached the liver and inhibited DHBV replication. Interestingly, our results indicated also that a modified CPP (CatLip) alone, in the absence of its PNA cargo, was able to drastically inhibit late stages of DHBV replication. In the mouse model, conjugation of HBV DNA vaccine to modified CS (Man-CS-Phe) improved cellular and humoral responses to plasmid-encoded antigen. Moreover, other systems for gene delivery were investigated including CPP-modified CS and cationic nanoparticles. The results showed that these nonviral vectors considerably increased plasmid DNA uptake and expression. Collectively promising results obtained in preclinical studies suggest the usefulness of these safe delivery systems for the development of novel therapeutics against chronic hepatitis B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bénédicte Ndeboko
- Institut National de la Sante et Recherche Medicale (INSERM) U1052, Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), Lyon 69003, France.
- Département de Biologie Cellulaire and Moléculaire-Génétique, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville 241, Gabon.
| | - Guy Joseph Lemamy
- Département de Biologie Cellulaire and Moléculaire-Génétique, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville 241, Gabon.
| | - Peter E Nielsen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Departement of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, the Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen DK 2200N, Denmark.
| | - Lucyna Cova
- Institut National de la Sante et Recherche Medicale (INSERM) U1052, Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), Lyon 69003, France.
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13
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Colombo M, Mizzotti C, Masiero S, Kater MM, Pesaresi P. Peptide aptamers: The versatile role of specific protein function inhibitors in plant biotechnology. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2015; 57:892-901. [PMID: 25966787 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.12368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, peptide aptamers have emerged as novel molecular tools that have attracted the attention of researchers in various fields of basic and applied science, ranging from medicine to analytical chemistry. These artificial short peptides are able to specifically bind, track, and inhibit a given target molecule with high affinity, even molecules with poor immunogenicity or high toxicity, and represent a remarkable alternative to antibodies in many different applications. Their use is on the rise, driven mainly by the medical and pharmaceutical sector. Here we discuss the enormous potential of peptide aptamers in both basic and applied aspects of plant biotechnology and food safety. The different peptide aptamer selection methods available both in vivo and in vitro are introduced, and the most important possible applications in plant biotechnology are illustrated. In particular, we discuss the generation of broad-based virus resistance in crops, "reverse genetics" and aptasensors in bioassays for detecting contaminations in food and feed. Furthermore, we suggest an alternative to the transfer of peptide aptamers into plant cells via genetic transformation, based on the use of cell-penetrating peptides that overcome the limits imposed by both crop transformation and Genetically Modified Organism commercialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Colombo
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige (Trento), Italy
| | - Chiara Mizzotti
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
| | - Simona Masiero
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
| | - Martin M Kater
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
| | - Paolo Pesaresi
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
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14
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Abstract
To achieve an efficient skin penetration of most compounds it is necessary to overcome the barrier function of the skin, provided mainly (but not only) by the stratum corneum. Among various strategies used or studied to date, chemical penetration enhancers are the most frequently employed with one of the longest histories of use. There is a multitude of agents described as penetration enhancers, and they present varying properties and structures. In this manuscript, we aim to provide a brief overview of traditional enhancers and some of their properties, focusing on the benefits of combination of chemical enhancers and on selected novel compounds that have shown promise to increase drug delivery into/across the skin.
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15
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Delivery of nucleic acids and nanomaterials by cell-penetrating peptides: opportunities and challenges. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:834079. [PMID: 25883975 PMCID: PMC4391616 DOI: 10.1155/2015/834079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2014] [Revised: 09/18/2014] [Accepted: 09/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Many viral and nonviral systems have been developed to aid delivery of biologically active molecules into cells. Among these, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have received increasing attention in the past two decades for biomedical applications. In this review, we focus on opportunities and challenges associated with CPP delivery of nucleic acids and nanomaterials. We first describe the nature of versatile CPPs and their interactions with various types of cargoes. We then discuss in vivo and in vitro delivery of nucleic acids and nanomaterials by CPPs. Studies on the mechanisms of cellular entry and limitations in the methods used are detailed.
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16
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Design of a multicomponent peptide-woven nanocomplex for delivery of siRNA. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0118310. [PMID: 25705892 PMCID: PMC4338040 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2014] [Accepted: 01/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
We developed and tested a multicomponent peptide-woven siRNA nanocomplex (PwSN) comprising different peptides designed for efficient cellular targeting, endosomal escape, and release of siRNA. To enhance tumor-specific cellular uptake, we connected an interleukin-4 receptor-targeting peptide (I4R) to a nine-arginine peptide (9r), yielding I4R-9r. To facilitate endosomal escape, we blended endosomolytic peptides into the I4R-9r to form a multicomponent nanocomplex. Lastly, we modified 9r peptides by varying the number and positions of positive charges to obtain efficient release of siRNA from the nanocomplex in the cytosol. Using this step-wise approach for overcoming the biological challenges of siRNA delivery, we obtained an optimized PwSN with significant biological activity in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, surface plasmon resonance analyses and three-dimensional peptide models demonstrated that our designed peptide adopted a unique structure that was correlated with faster complex disassembly and a better gene-silencing effect. These studies further elucidate the siRNA nanocomplex delivery pathway and demonstrate the applicability of our stepwise strategy to the design of siRNA carriers capable of overcoming multiple challenges and achieving efficient delivery.
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Hayashi T, Fukuda N, Uchiyama S, Inada N. A cell-permeable fluorescent polymeric thermometer for intracellular temperature mapping in mammalian cell lines. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0117677. [PMID: 25692871 PMCID: PMC4333297 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2014] [Accepted: 12/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in intracellular temperatures reflect the activity of the cell. Thus, the tool to measure intracellular temperatures could provide valuable information about cellular status. We previously reported a method to analyze the intracellular temperature distribution using a fluorescent polymeric thermometer (FPT) in combination with fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). Intracellular delivery of the FPT used in the previous study required microinjection. We now report a novel FPT that is cell permeable and highly photostable, and we describe the application of this FPT to the imaging of intracellular temperature distributions in various types of mammalian cell lines. This cell-permeable FPT displayed a temperature resolution of 0.05°C to 0.54°C within the range from 28°C to 38°C in HeLa cell extracts. Using our optimized protocol, this cell-permeable FPT spontaneously diffused into HeLa cells within 10 min of incubation and exhibited minimal toxicity over several hours of observation. FLIM analysis confirmed a temperature difference between the nucleus and the cytoplasm and heat production near the mitochondria, which were also detected previously using the microinjected FPT. We also showed that this cell-permeable FPT protocol can be applied to other mammalian cell lines, COS7 and NIH/3T3 cells. Thus, this cell-permeable FPT represents a promising tool to study cellular states and functions with respect to temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teruyuki Hayashi
- The Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma-shi, Nara, Japan
| | - Nanaho Fukuda
- The Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma-shi, Nara, Japan
| | - Seiichi Uchiyama
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Noriko Inada
- The Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma-shi, Nara, Japan
- * E-mail:
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18
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Kumar S, Zakrewsky M, Chen M, Menegatti S, Muraski JA, Mitragotri S. Peptides as skin penetration enhancers: Mechanisms of action. J Control Release 2015; 199:168-78. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2014.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2014] [Revised: 11/22/2014] [Accepted: 12/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Khaybullin RN, Panda SS, Mirzai S, Toneff E, Asiri AM, Hall CD, Katritzky AR. Arginine thioacid in synthesis of arginine conjugates and peptides. RSC Adv 2014. [DOI: 10.1039/c4ra04897k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
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20
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Moscatiello R, Sello S, Novero M, Negro A, Bonfante P, Navazio L. The intracellular delivery of TAT-aequorin reveals calcium-mediated sensing of environmental and symbiotic signals by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Gigaspora margarita. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2014; 203:1012-1020. [PMID: 24845011 DOI: 10.1111/nph.12849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 04/10/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is an ecologically relevant symbiosis between most land plants and Glomeromycota fungi. The peculiar traits of AM fungi have so far limited traditional approaches such as genetic transformation. The aim of this work was to investigate whether the protein transduction domain of the HIV-1 transactivator of transcription (TAT) protein, previously shown to act as a potent nanocarrier for macromolecule delivery in both animal and plant cells, may translocate protein cargoes into AM fungi. We evaluated the internalization into germinated spores of Gigaspora margarita of two recombinant TAT fusion proteins consisting of either a fluorescent (GFP) or a luminescent (aequorin) reporter linked to the TAT peptide. Both TAT-fused proteins were found to enter AM fungal mycelia after a short incubation period (5-10 min). Ca2+ measurements in G. margarita mycelia pre-incubated with TAT-aequorin demonstrated the occurrence of changes in the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration in response to relevant stimuli, such as touch, cold, salinity, and strigolactones, symbiosis-related plant signals. These data indicate that the cell-penetrating properties of the TAT peptide can be used as an effective strategy for intracellularly delivering proteins of interest and shed new light on Ca2+ homeostasis and signalling in AM fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Moscatiello
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padova, Italy
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21
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Liu BR, Liou JS, Chen YJ, Huang YW, Lee HJ. Delivery of nucleic acids, proteins, and nanoparticles by arginine-rich cell-penetrating peptides in rotifers. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2013; 15:584-95. [PMID: 23715807 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-013-9509-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2012] [Accepted: 04/09/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are a group of short, membrane-permeable cationic peptides that represent a nonviral technology for delivering nanomaterials and macromolecules into live cells. In this study, two arginine-rich CPPs, HR9 and IR9, were found to be capable of entering rotifers. CPPs were able to efficiently deliver noncovalently associated with cargoes, including plasmid DNAs, red fluorescent proteins (RFPs), and semiconductor quantum dots, into rotifers. The functional reporter gene assay demonstrated that HR9-delivered plasmid DNAs containing the enhanced green fluorescent protein and RFP coding sequences could be actively expressed in rotifers. The 1-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-3,5-diphenylformazan assay further confirmed that CPP-mediated cargo delivery was not toxic to rotifers. Thus, these two CPPs hold a great potential for the delivery of exogenous genes, proteins, and nanoparticles in rotifers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betty Revon Liu
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, National Dong Hwa University, 1, Sec. 2, Da-Hsueh Road, Shoufeng, Hualien, 97401, Taiwan
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22
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Liu BR, Lo SY, Liu CC, Chyan CL, Huang YW, Aronstam RS, Lee HJ. Endocytic Trafficking of Nanoparticles Delivered by Cell-penetrating Peptides Comprised of Nona-arginine and a Penetration Accelerating Sequence. PLoS One 2013; 8:e67100. [PMID: 23840594 PMCID: PMC3694042 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2013] [Accepted: 05/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) can traverse cellular membranes and deliver biologically active molecules into cells. In this study, we demonstrate that CPPs comprised of nona-arginine (R9) and a penetration accelerating peptide sequence (Pas) that facilitates escape from endocytic lysosomes, denoted as PR9, greatly enhance the delivery of noncovalently associated quantum dots (QDs) into human A549 cells. Mechanistic studies, intracellular trafficking analysis and a functional gene assay reveal that endocytosis is the main route for intracellular delivery of PR9/QD complexes. Endocytic trafficking of PR9/QD complexes was monitored using both confocal and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Zeta-potential and size analyses indicate the importance of electrostatic forces in the interaction of PR9/QD complexes with plasma membranes. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy reveals that the secondary structural elements of PR9 have similar conformations in aqueous buffer at pH 7 and 5. This study of nontoxic PR9 provides a basis for the design of optimized cargo delivery that allows escape from endocytic vesicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betty R Liu
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan
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23
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Kim M, Kim HR, Chae SY, Larson RG, Lee H, Park JC. Effect of Arginine-Rich Peptide Length on the Structure and Binding Strength of siRNA–Peptide Complexes. J Phys Chem B 2013; 117:6917-26. [DOI: 10.1021/jp402868g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Minwoo Kim
- Bio Research Center, Samsung
Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT), Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Yongin, 446-712, South Korea
| | - Hyun Ryoung Kim
- Bio Research Center, Samsung
Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT), Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Yongin, 446-712, South Korea
| | - Su Young Chae
- Bio Research Center, Samsung
Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT), Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Yongin, 446-712, South Korea
| | - Ronald G. Larson
- Department of Chemical Engineering,
Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Macromolecular
Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Hwankyu Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Dankook University, Yongin, 448-701, South Korea
| | - Jae Chan Park
- Bio Research Center, Samsung
Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT), Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Yongin, 446-712, South Korea
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24
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Intracellular delivery of nanoparticles and DNAs by IR9 cell-penetrating peptides. PLoS One 2013; 8:e64205. [PMID: 23724035 PMCID: PMC3665793 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2013] [Accepted: 04/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) comprised of basic amino residues are able to cross cytoplasmic membranes and are able to deliver biologically active molecules inside cells. However, CPP/cargo entrapment in endosome limits biomedical utility as cargoes are destroyed in the acidic environment. In this study, we demonstrate protein transduction of a novel CPP comprised of an INF7 fusion peptide and nona-arginine (designated IR9). IR9 noncovalently interacts with quantum dots (QDs) and DNAs to form stable IR9/QD and IR9/DNA complexes which are capable of entering human A549 cells. Zeta-potentials were a better predictor of transduction efficiency than gel shift analysis, emphasizing the importance of electrostatic interactions of CPP/cargo complexes with plasma membranes. Mechanistic studies revealed that IR9, IR9/QD and IR9/DNA complexes may enter cells by endocytosis. Further, IR9, IR9/QD and IR9/DNA complexes were not cytotoxic at concentrations below 30, 5 and 20.1 µM, respectively. Without labor intensive production of fusion proteins from prokaryotes, these results indicate that IR9 could be a safe carrier of genes and drugs in biomedical applications.
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25
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Liu BR, Huang YW, Lee HJ. Mechanistic studies of intracellular delivery of proteins by cell-penetrating peptides in cyanobacteria. BMC Microbiol 2013; 13:57. [PMID: 23497160 PMCID: PMC3637573 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-13-57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2012] [Accepted: 03/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The plasma membrane plays an essential role in selective permeability, compartmentalization, osmotic balance, and cellular uptake. The characteristics and functions of cyanobacterial membranes have been extensively investigated in recent years. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are special nanocarriers that can overcome the plasma membrane barrier and enter cells directly, either alone or with associated cargoes. However, the cellular entry mechanisms of CPPs in cyanobacteria have not been studied. Results In the present study, we determine CPP-mediated transduction efficiency and internalization mechanisms in cyanobacteria using a combination of biological and biophysical methods. We demonstrate that both Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 strains of cyanobacteria possess red autofluorescence. Green fluorescent protein (GFP), either alone or noncovalently associated with a CPP comprised of nine arginine residues (R9/GFP complexes), entered cyanobacteria. The ATP-depleting inhibitor of classical endocytosis, N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), could block the spontaneous internalization of GFP, but not the transduction of R9/GFP complexes. Three specific inhibitors of macropinocytosis, cytochalasin D (CytD), 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)-amiloride (EIPA), and wortmannin, reduced the efficiency of R9/GFP complex transduction, indicating that entry of R9/GFP complexes involves macropinocytosis. Both the 1-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-3,5-diphenylformazan (MTT) and membrane leakage analyses confirmed that R9/GFP complexes were not toxic to the cyanobacteria, nor were the endocytic and macropinocytic inhibitors used in these studies. Conclusions In summary, we have demonstrated that cyanobacteria use classical endocytosis and macropinocytosis to internalize exogenous GFP and CPP/GFP proteins, respectively. Moreover, the CPP-mediated delivery system is not toxic to cyanobacteria, and can be used to investigate biological processes at the cellular level in this species. These results suggest that both endocytic and macropinocytic pathways can be used for efficient internalization of regular protein and CPP-mediated protein delivery in cyanobacteria, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betty R Liu
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien 97401, Taiwan
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26
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Yan L, Wang H, Jiang Y, Liu J, Wang Z, Yang Y, Huang S, Huang Y. Cell-penetrating peptide-modified PLGA nanoparticles for enhanced nose-to-brain macromolecular delivery. Macromol Res 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s13233-013-1029-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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27
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Liou JS, Liu BR, Martin AL, Huang YW, Chiang HJ, Lee HJ. Protein transduction in human cells is enhanced by cell-penetrating peptides fused with an endosomolytic HA2 sequence. Peptides 2012; 37:273-84. [PMID: 22898256 PMCID: PMC9616647 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2012.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2012] [Revised: 07/21/2012] [Accepted: 07/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Endocytosis has been proposed as one of the primary mechanisms for cellular entry of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) and their cargoes. However, a major limitation of endocytic pathway is entrapment of the CPP-cargo in intracellular vesicles from which the cargo must escape into the cytoplasm to exert its biological activity. Here we demonstrate that a CPP tagged with an endosomolytic fusion peptide derived from the influenza virus hemagglutinin-2 (HA2) remarkably enhances the cytosolic delivery of proteins in human A549 cells. To determine the endosome-disruptive effects, recombinant DNA plasmids containing coding sequences of HA2, CPPs and red fluorescent proteins (RFPs) were constructed. The fusion proteins were purified from plasmid-transformed Escherichia coli, and their effects on protein transduction were examined using live cell imaging and flow cytometry. Our data indicate that endocytosis is the major route for cellular internalization of CPP-HA2-tagged RFP. Mechanistic studies revealed that the fusogenic HA2 peptide dramatically facilitates CPP-mediated protein entry through the release of endocytosed RFPs from endosomes into the cytoplasm. Furthermore, incorporating the HA2 fusion peptide of the CPP-HA2 fusion protein improved cytosolic uptake without causing cytotoxicity. These findings strongly suggest that the CPP-HA2 tag could be an efficient and safe carrier that overcomes endosomal entrapment of delivered therapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Sing Liou
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, National Dong Hwa University, No. 1, Sec. 2, Da-Hsueh Road, Shoufeng, Hualien 97401, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Dong Hwa University, No. 1, Sec. 2, Da-Hsueh Road, Shoufeng, Hualien 97401, Taiwan
| | - Betty Revon Liu
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, National Dong Hwa University, No. 1, Sec. 2, Da-Hsueh Road, Shoufeng, Hualien 97401, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Dong Hwa University, No. 1, Sec. 2, Da-Hsueh Road, Shoufeng, Hualien 97401, Taiwan
| | - Adam L. Martin
- Department of Biological Sciences and the cDNA Resources Center, Missouri University of Science and Technology, 206 Schrenk Hall, 400 West 11th Street, Rolla, MO 65409-1120, USA
| | - Yue-Wern Huang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Missouri University of Science and Technology, 105 Schrenk Hall, 400 West 11th Street, Rolla, MO 65409-1120, USA
| | - Huey-Jenn Chiang
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Dong Hwa University, No. 1, Sec. 2, Da-Hsueh Road, Shoufeng, Hualien 97401, Taiwan
| | - Han-Jung Lee
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, National Dong Hwa University, No. 1, Sec. 2, Da-Hsueh Road, Shoufeng, Hualien 97401, Taiwan
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TIAN WENXIA, LI BING, ZHANG XIWEN, DANG WEIQI, WANG XIAOFEI, TANG HAO, WANG LIN, CAO HONG, CHEN TINGMEI. Suppression of tumor invasion and migration in breast cancer cells following delivery of siRNA against Stat3 with the antimicrobial peptide PR39. Oncol Rep 2012; 28:1362-8. [DOI: 10.3892/or.2012.1911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2012] [Accepted: 05/25/2012] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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29
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Liu BR, Lin MD, Chiang HJ, Lee HJ. Arginine-rich cell-penetrating peptides deliver gene into living human cells. Gene 2012; 505:37-45. [PMID: 22669044 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2012.05.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2012] [Revised: 04/12/2012] [Accepted: 05/28/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Transgenesis is a process that introduces exogenous nucleic acids into the genome of an organism to produce desired traits or evaluate function. Improvements of transgenic technologies are always important pursuit in the last decades. Recently, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) were studied as shuttles that can internalize into cells directly and serve as carriers to deliver different cargoes into cells. In the present study, we evaluate whether arginine-rich CPPs can be used for gene delivery into human cells in a noncovalent fashion. We demonstrate that three arginine-rich CPPs (SR9, HR9, and PR9) are able to transport plasmid DNA into human A549 cells. For the functional gene assay, the CPP-delivered plasmid DNA containing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) coding sequence could be actively expressed in cells. The treatment of calcium chloride did not facilitate the CPP-mediated transfection efficiency, but enhance the gene expression intensity. Mechanistic studies further revealed that HR9/DNA complexes mediate the direct membrane translocation pathway for gene delivery. Our results suggest that arginine-rich CPPs, especially HR9, appear to be a high efficient and promising tool for gene transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betty Revon Liu
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien 97401, Taiwan
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30
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Chen YJ, Liu BR, Dai YH, Lee CY, Chan MH, Chen HH, Chiang HJ, Lee HJ. A gene delivery system for insect cells mediated by arginine-rich cell-penetrating peptides. Gene 2012; 493:201-10. [PMID: 22173105 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2011.11.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2011] [Revised: 11/07/2011] [Accepted: 11/22/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Most bioactive macromolecules, such as protein, DNA and RNA, basically cannot permeate into cells freely from outside the plasma membrane. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are a group of short peptides that possess the ability to traverse the cell membrane and have been considered as candidates for mediating gene and drug delivery into living cells. In this study, we demonstrate that three arginine-rich CPPs (SR9, HR9 and PR9) are able to form stable complexes with plasmid DNA and deliver DNA into insect Sf9 cells in a noncovalent manner. The transferred plasmid DNA containing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) coding regions could be expressed in cells functionally assayed at both the protein and RNA levels. Furthermore, treatment of cells with CPPs and CPP/DNA complexes resulted in a viability of 84-93% indicating these CPPs are not cytotoxic. These results suggest that arginine-rich CPPs appear to be a promising tool for insect transgenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yung-Jen Chen
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien 97401, Taiwan
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Tahara Y, Honda S, Kamiya N, Goto M. Transdermal delivery of insulin using a solid-in-oil nanodispersion enhanced by arginine-rich peptides. MEDCHEMCOMM 2012. [DOI: 10.1039/c2md20059g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Manosroi J, Lohcharoenkal W, Götz F, Werner RG, Manosroi W, Manosroi A. Polioviral receptor binding ligand: a novel and safe peptide drug carrier from polioviral capsid. Drug Deliv 2011; 19:21-7. [PMID: 22142037 DOI: 10.3109/10717544.2011.621991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular uptake enhancement of green fluorescent protein (GFP) into human colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29) and human mouth epidermal carcinoma (KB) cells by a segment of VP1-BC loop polioviral capsid (V), a polioviral receptor binding peptide and HIV-I transactivator of transcription (Tat) was evaluated. HT-29 and KB cells were incubated with various molar concentrations of GFP, V, and Tat mixtures. Both V and Tat showed potent enhancement of GFP uptake into HT-29 and KB cells. In HT-29 cells, the V-GFP, Tat-GFP, and V-Tat-GFP mixtures enhanced the GFP cellular uptake efficiency with the maximum of 3.98-, 4.59-, and 4.08-folds of GFP at 1:3, 1:1/6, and 1/6:1:1/6 molar ratios, respectively. For KB cells, the V-GFP, Tat-GFP, and V-Tat-GFP mixtures enhanced the GFP cellular uptake efficiency with the maximum of 4.05-, 5.09-, and 4.91-folds of GFP at 1:1/6, 1:1, and 1:1:1 molar ratios, respectively. Both V and V-GFP mixtures showed a lower cytotoxicity effect than Tat and Tat-GFP mixture. These studies demonstrated the potential of polioviral capsid, a polioviral receptor binding peptide as a novel, low cytotoxicity carrier for the development of peptide drugs delivery system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiradej Manosroi
- Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
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Dai YH, Liu BR, Chiang HJ, Lee HJ. Gene transport and expression by arginine-rich cell-penetrating peptides in Paramecium. Gene 2011; 489:89-97. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2011.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2011] [Revised: 07/13/2011] [Accepted: 08/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Zonin E, Moscatiello R, Miuzzo M, Cavallarin N, Di Paolo ML, Sandonà D, Marin O, Brini M, Negro A, Navazio L. TAT-mediated aequorin transduction: an alternative approach for effective calcium measurements in plant cells. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2011; 52:2225-35. [PMID: 22025557 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcr145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides are short cationic peptides with the property of translocating across the plasma membrane and transferring macromolecules otherwise unable to permeate cell membranes. We investigated the potential ability of the protein transduction domain derived from amino acids 47-57 of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) TAT (transactivator of transcription) protein to be used as a nanocarrier for the delivery of aequorin, a Ca(2+)-sensitive photoprotein widely used as a reliable Ca(2+) reporter in cell populations. The TAT peptide, either covalently linked to apoaequorin or ionically bound to plasmids encoding differentially targeted aequorin, was supplied to plant suspension-cultured cells. The TAT-aequorin fusion protein was found to be rapidly and effectively translocated into plant cells. The chimeric molecule was internalized in fully active biological form and at levels suitable to monitor intracellular Ca(2+) concentrations. Plant cells incubated for just 5 min with TAT-aequorin responded to different environmental stimuli with the expected Ca(2+) signatures. On the other hand, TAT-mediated plasmid internalization did not provide the necessary level of transformation efficiency to allow calibration of luminescence signals into Ca(2+) concentration values. These results indicate that TAT-mediated aequorin transduction is a promising alternative to traditional plant transformation methods to monitor intracellular Ca(2+) dynamics rapidly and effectively in plant cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Zonin
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy
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Papadopoulou LC, Tsiftsoglou AS. Transduction of human recombinant proteins into mitochondria as a protein therapeutic approach for mitochondrial disorders. Pharm Res 2011; 28:2639-56. [PMID: 21874377 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-011-0546-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2011] [Accepted: 07/21/2011] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Protein therapy is considered an alternative approach to gene therapy for treatment of genetic-metabolic disorders. Human protein therapeutics (PTs), developed via recombinant DNA technology and used for the treatment of these illnesses, act upon membrane-bound receptors to achieve their pharmacological response. On the contrary, proteins that normally act inside the cells cannot be developed as PTs in the conventional way, since they are not able to "cross" the plasma membrane. Furthermore, in mitochondrial disorders, attributed either to depleted or malfunctioned mitochondrial proteins, PTs should also have to reach the subcellular mitochondria to exert their therapeutic potential. Nowadays, there is no effective therapy for mitochondrial disorders. The development of PTs, however, via the Protein Transduction Domain (PTD) technology offered new opportunities for the deliberate delivery of human recombinant proteins inside eukaryotic subcellular organelles. To this end, mitochondrial disorders could be clinically encountered with the delivery of human mitochondrial proteins (engineered via recombinant DNA and PTD technologies) at specific intramitochondrial sites to exert their function. Overall, PTD-mediated Protein Replacement Therapy emerges as a suitable model system for the therapeutic approach for mitochondrial disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lefkothea C Papadopoulou
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GR54124, Macedonia, Greece.
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A gene delivery system for human cells mediated by both a cell-penetrating peptide and a piggyBac transposase. Biomaterials 2011; 32:6264-76. [PMID: 21636125 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2011] [Accepted: 05/03/2011] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The piggyBac (PB) transposable element has recently accumulated enormous attention as a tool for the transgenesis in various eukaryotic organisms. Arginine-rich cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are protein transduction domains containing a large amount of basic amino acids that were found to be capable of delivering biologically active macromolecules into living cells. In this study, we demonstrate a strategy, which we called "transposoduction", which is a one-plasmid gene delivery system mediated by the nontoxic CPP-piggyBac transposase (CPP-PBase) fusion protein to accomplish both protein transduction and transposition. CPPs were proven to be able to synchronously deliver covalently linked PBase and noncovalently linked a cis plasmid into human cells. The expression of promoterless reporter genes coding for red (dTomato) and yellow (mOrange) fluorescent proteins (RFP and YFP) with PB elements could be detected in cells treated with the PBase-expressing plasmid after 3 days indicating transposition of coding regions to downstream of endogenous promoter sequences. An enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) plasmid-based excision assay further confirmed the efficiency of the bifunctional CPP-PBase fusion protein. In conclusion, this strategy representing a combinational concept of both protein transduction and mobile transposition may provide tremendous potential for safe and efficient cell line transformation, gene therapy and functional genomics.
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Chen YA, Kuo HC, Chen YM, Huang SY, Liu YR, Lin SC, Yang HL, Chen TY. A gene delivery system based on the N-terminal domain of human topoisomerase I. Biomaterials 2011; 32:4174-84. [PMID: 21406310 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.02.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2011] [Accepted: 02/19/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The N-terminal 200 amino acid residues of topoisomerase I (TopoN) is highly positive in charge and has DNA binding activity, without DNA sequence and topological specificity. Here, a fusion protein (6 x His-PTD-TopoN) containing a hexahistidine (6 x His) tag, a membrane penetration domain and TopoN (amino acid 3-200) was designed and developed. The protein can bind to different sizes (3.0-8.0 kb) and forms (circular and linear) of DNA and translocates the bound DNA to the nucleus. The protein also showed low cytotoxicity to GF-1 grouper fish fin cells that were previously very sensitive and difficult to transfect in vitro. Maintaining the hexahistidine tag increased the protein's transfection efficiency in COS7 African green monkey kidney cells and simplified the purification process. The plasmid pEGFP-N1 was delivered into COS7 cells by the protein in ATP- and temperature-dependent manners. The results indicate that the binding ability of TopoN is very useful for DNA delivery and the carrier protein can be expressed in Escherichia coli without removal of the hexahistidine tag.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-An Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biotechnology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
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Dix AV, Fischer L, Sarrazin S, Redgate CPH, Esko JD, Tor Y. Cooperative, heparan sulfate-dependent cellular uptake of dimeric guanidinoglycosides. Chembiochem 2011; 11:2302-10. [PMID: 20931643 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201000399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Oligoarginine and guanidinium-rich molecular transporters have been shown to facilitate the intracellular delivery of a diverse range of biologically relevant cargos. Several such transporters have been suggested to interact with cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans as part of their cell-entry pathway. Unlike for other guanidinium-rich transporters, the cellular uptake of guanidinoglycosides at nanomolar concentrations is exclusively heparan sulfate dependent. As distinct cells differ in their expression levels and/or the composition of cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans, one might be able to exploit such differences to selectively target certain cell types. To systematically investigate the nature of their cell-surface interactions, monomeric and dimeric guanidinoglycosides were synthesized by using neomycin, paromomycin, and tobramycin as scaffolds. These transporters differ in the number and 3D arrangement of their guanidinium groups. Their cellular uptake was measured by flow cytometry in wild-type and mutant Chinese hamster ovary cells after the corresponding fluorescent streptavidin-phycoerythrin-Cy5 conjugates had been generated. All derivatives showed negligible uptake in mutant cells lacking heparan sulfate. Decreasing the number of guanidinium groups diminished uptake, but the three dimensional arrangement of these groups was less important for cellular delivery. Whereas conjugates prepared with the monomeric carriers showed significantly reduced uptake in mutant cells expressing heparan sulfate chains with altered patterns of sulfation, conjugates prepared with the dimeric guanidinoglycosides could overcome this deficiency and maintain high levels of uptake in such deficient cells. This finding suggests that cellular uptake depends on the valency of the transporter and both the content and arrangement of the sulfate groups on the cell-surface receptors. Competition studies with chemically desulfated or carboxy-reduced heparin derivatives corroborated these observations. Taken together, these findings show that increasing the valency of the transporters retains heparan sulfate specificity and provides reagents that could distinguish different cell types based on the specific composition of their cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew V Dix
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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Nona-arginine facilitates delivery of quantum dots into cells via multiple pathways. J Biomed Biotechnol 2010; 2010:948543. [PMID: 21048930 PMCID: PMC2965432 DOI: 10.1155/2010/948543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2010] [Revised: 08/03/2010] [Accepted: 09/26/2010] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have recently been used to deliver and monitor biomolecules, such as drugs and proteins. However, QDs alone have a low efficiency of transport across the plasma membrane. In order to increase the efficiency, we used synthetic nona-arginine (SR9), a cell-penetrating peptide, to facilitate uptake. We found that SR9 increased the cellular uptake of QDs in a noncovalent binding manner between QDs and SR9. Further, we investigated mechanisms of QD/SR9 cellular internalization. Low temperature and metabolic inhibitors markedly inhibited the uptake of QD/SR9, indicating that internalization is an energy-dependent process. Results from both the pathway inhibitors and the RNA interference (RNAi) technique suggest that cellular uptake of QD/SR9 is predominantly a lipid raft-dependent process mediated by macropinocytosis. However, involvement of clathrin and caveolin-1 proteins in transducing QD/SR9 across the membrane cannot be completely ruled out.
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Lu SW, Hu JW, Liu BR, Lee CY, Li JF, Chou JC, Lee HJ. Arginine-rich intracellular delivery peptides synchronously deliver covalently and noncovalently linked proteins into plant cells. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2010; 58:2288-2294. [PMID: 20092251 DOI: 10.1021/jf903039j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Protein transduction domains (PTDs) are small peptides with a high content of basic amino acids, and they are responsible for cellular uptake. Many PTDs, including arginine-rich intracellular delivery (AID) peptides, have been shown to transport macromolecules across membranes and into cells. In this study, we demonstrated for the first time that AID peptides could rapidly and efficiently deliver proteins into plant cells in both covalent and noncovalent protein transductions (CNPT) simultaneously. The optimal molecular ratio between an AID peptide carrier and cargo in CNPT was about 3:1. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) analysis revealed protein-protein interactions between AID peptide carriers and cargos after CNPT in cells. The possible mechanisms of AID peptides-mediated cellular entry might involve a combination of multiple internalization pathways. Therefore, applications by AID peptide-mediated CNPT may provide a simple and direct transport strategy for delivering two proteins in agricultural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Wan Lu
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, and Institute of Biotechnology, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien 97401, Taiwan
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Hu JW, Liu BR, Wu CY, Lu SW, Lee HJ. Protein transport in human cells mediated by covalently and noncovalently conjugated arginine-rich intracellular delivery peptides. Peptides 2009; 30:1669-78. [PMID: 19524630 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2009.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2009] [Revised: 06/03/2009] [Accepted: 06/03/2009] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Generally, biomacromolecules, such as DNA, RNA, and proteins, cannot freely permeate into cells from outside the membrane. Protein transduction domains (PTDs) are peptides containing a large number of basic amino acids that can deliver macromolecules into living cells. Arginine-rich intracellular delivery (AID) peptides are more effective than other PTD peptides at carrying large molecules across cellular membranes. In the present study, we demonstrated that AID peptides are able to deliver cargo proteins into living cells in both covalent and noncovalent protein transductions (CNPT) synchronously. Human A549 cells were treated with a fluorescent protein (FP) that was noncovalently premixed with another AID-conjugated FP, which emitted a different color. After the delivery of carrier AID-FP and cargo FP into cells, the emission and merge of fluorescence were observed and recorded with a confocal microscope, while the internalization efficiency was quantitatively analyzed with a flow cytometer. The optimal molecular ratio between carrier AID-FP and cargo FP for CNPT is about 1:1/3. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay further confirmed AID-conjugates can physically interact with its cargo FPs in CNPT in cells. Potential uptake mechanisms of CNPT may involve a combination of multiple internalization pathways. After delivery, intracellular distributions of AID-conjugates and FPs may possibly colocalize with lysosomes. These results will facilitate the understanding of multiple mechanisms of PTDs, and provide a powerful tool for simultaneously delivering several proteins or compounds in protein internalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Wei Hu
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, Institute of Biotechnology, National Dong Hwa University, No. 1 Sec. 2 Da-Hsueh Road, Hualien, Taiwan
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Tahara Y, Honda S, Kamiya N, Piao H, Hirata A, Hayakawa E, Fujii T, Goto M. A solid-in-oil nanodispersion for transcutaneous protein delivery. J Control Release 2008; 131:14-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2008.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2007] [Revised: 06/28/2008] [Accepted: 07/08/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Katritzky AR, Meher G, Narindoshvili T. Efficient Synthesis of Peptides by Extension at the N- and C-Terminii of Arginine. J Org Chem 2008; 73:7153-8. [DOI: 10.1021/jo800805w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alan R. Katritzky
- Center for Heterocyclic Compounds, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-7200
| | - Geeta Meher
- Center for Heterocyclic Compounds, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-7200
| | - Tamari Narindoshvili
- Center for Heterocyclic Compounds, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-7200
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Liu BR, Chou JC, Lee HJ. Cell Membrane Diversity in Noncovalent Protein Transduction. J Membr Biol 2008; 222:1-15. [DOI: 10.1007/s00232-008-9096-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2007] [Accepted: 01/28/2008] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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45
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Loudet A, Han J, Barhoumi R, Pellois JP, Burghardt RC, Burgess K. Non-covalent delivery of proteins into mammalian cells. Org Biomol Chem 2008; 6:4516-22. [DOI: 10.1039/b809006h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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46
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Lin TJ, Yang RY, Lee HJ. Collective repression of the hepatitis B virus enhancer II by human TR4 and TR2 orphan receptors. Hepatol Res 2008; 38:79-84. [PMID: 17645519 DOI: 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2007.00208.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
AIM The human testicular receptor 4 and 2 (TR4 and TR2) orphan receptors are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily that regulate target gene expression via binding to the consensus AGGTCA direct repeats of the hormone response elements. Previous studies have reported that TR4 and other nuclear receptors could bind to the direct repeat 1 element of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) core promoter. METHODS Differential gene expression of HBV caused by TR4 and TR2 was determined by gel retardation and functional assays. RESULTS Electrophoretic mobility shift assay demonstrated that TR4 and TR2 might bind to the direct repeat 6 element of the HBV enhancer II region. RESULTS of the dual-luciferasereporter gene assay showed that TR4 and TR2 might significantly suppress HBV gene expression through this direct repeat 6 element in the enhancer II. CONCLUSION These results implied that TR4 together with its heterodimer partner TR2 could collectively play a significant role in the transcriptional suppression of HBV gene expression via the direct repeat 6 element in the enhancer II. Therefore, the application of nuclear receptors potentially may be antiviral agents in chronic HBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-Jon Lin
- Department of Life Science, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan
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Hou YW, Chan MH, Hsu HR, Liu BR, Chen CP, Chen HH, Lee HJ. Transdermal delivery of proteins mediated by non-covalently associated arginine-rich intracellular delivery peptides. Exp Dermatol 2007; 16:999-1006. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2007.00622.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Abstract
Gene delivery offers the promise of treatment for a range of human diseases. Although carried out initially with modified viruses, the use of synthetic molecules, including polymers, lipids and peptides, has extended the possibilities greatly for rationally designed vectors tailored to individual gene-delivery applications. Underlying the rational design of gene-delivery vectors is the need to understand the individual steps of the gene-delivery pathway. Using new methods in fluorescence microscopy, it is now possible to isolate individual steps along the gene-delivery pathway to characterize the mechanisms of cellular binding, cellular internalization and nuclear entry. This review describes the advances made in the gene-delivery field with the assistance of fluorescence microscopy. The focus of this review is the use of synthetic gene-delivery vectors, especially polyethylenimine, and the live-cell imaging and single-particle tracking techniques that reveal the intracellular dynamics of the gene-delivery process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine K Payne
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, 901 Atlantic Drive, Molecular Science and Engineering, Atlanta, GA 30332–0400, USA
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Lopes LB, Furnish E, Komalavilas P, Seal BL, Panitch A, Bentley MVLB, Brophy CM. Enhanced skin penetration of P20 phosphopeptide using protein transduction domains. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2007; 68:441-5. [PMID: 18035527 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2007.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2007] [Revised: 09/26/2007] [Accepted: 09/28/2007] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Protein transduction domains (PTDs) were recently demonstrated to increase the penetration of the model peptide P20 when the PTD and P20 were covalently attached. Here, we evaluated whether non-covalently linked PTDs were capable of increasing the skin penetration of P20. Two different PTDs were studied: YARA and WLR. Porcine ear skin mounted in a Franz diffusion cell was used to assess the penetration of P20 in the stratum corneum (SC) and viable skin (VS); VS consists of dermis and epidermis without SC. The transdermal delivery of P20 was also assessed. At 1mM, YARA promoted a 2.33-fold increase in the retention of P20 in the SC but did not significantly increase the amount of P20 that reached VS. WLR significantly increased (2.88-fold) the penetration of P20 in VS. Compared to the non-attached form, the covalently linked WLR fragment was two times more effective in promoting the penetration of P20 into VS. None of the PTDs promoted transdermal delivery of P20 at 4h post-application. It was concluded that selected non-covalently linked PTDs can be used as a penetration enhancer, but greater skin penetration efficiency can be achieved by covalently binding the PTD to the therapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana B Lopes
- Center for Metabolic Biology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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50
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Chang M, Wang JH, Lee HJ. Laboratory production of 100 base pair DNA molecular weight markers. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 70:1199-202. [PMID: 17870177 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbbm.2007.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2007] [Revised: 06/07/2007] [Accepted: 08/16/2007] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
DNA molecular weight markers are routinely used in agarose gel electrophoresis. Here we report a method called PCR-synthesized marker (PSM) to generate DNA molecular rulers by PCR in the laboratory. This strategy can also be used to produce 100 bp RNA molecular weight markers by run-off transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Microsugar Chang
- Department of Life Science, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien 97401, Taiwan
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