Peptides for facilitating composite receptor expression and translocation of macromolecules

A fusion peptide comprising Composite Receptor 1 (CR1).

A fusion peptide comprising Composite Receptor 2 (CR2).

A fusion peptide comprising Composite Receptor 1R (CR1R).

An isolated peptide selected from the group consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs:

• 36, 38 and 39.

A method of identifying a binding partner of a receptor domain of a composite receptor fusion peptide, the method comprising;

• a. contacting a cell comprising the receptor domain with a test compound;
• b. comparing the level of binding of the test compound with the cell with the level of binding of the test compound in an otherwise identical cell not comprising the receptor domain, wherein a higher level of binding of the test compound in the cell contacted with the test compound, compared with the level of binding of the test compound in the otherwise identical cell not comprising the receptor domain is an indication that the test compound is a binding partner of the receptor domain, thereby identifying a binding partner of a receptor domain of a composite receptor fusion peptide.

A kit for administering a composite receptor fusion peptide to a cell, the kit comprising a composite receptor fusion peptide, an applicator, and an instructional material for the use thereof.

A fusion peptide comprising at least one cell penetrating domain linked to an adapter domain capable of binding to a molecule, wherein the orientation of the cell penetrating domain is independent of the orientation of the adapter domain.

An isolated peptide selected from the group consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs:

• 41, 49 and 50.

A method of facilitating translocation of a molecule into a cell, the method comprising administering to the cell the molecule and an effective amount of a fusion peptide, wherein the fusion peptide comprises at least one cell penetrating domain linked to an adapter domain capable of binding to the molecule, further wherein the fusion peptide facilitates translocation of the molecule into the cell, thereby facilitating translocation of the molecule into the cell.

A method of facilitating translocation a nucleic acid into a cell, the method comprising administering to the cell the nucleic acid and an effective amount of a fusion peptide, wherein the fusion peptide comprises at least one cell penetrating domain linked to an adapter domain capable of binding to the nucleic acid, further wherein the fusion peptide facilitates translocation of the nucleic acid into the cell, thereby facilitating translocation of the nucleic acid into the cell.

A method of identifying a fusion peptide comprising an adapter domain capable of translocating a molecule into a cell, the method comprising:

• a. contacting a cell with a fusion peptide comprising a test adapter domain and a molecule;
• b. comparing the level of translocation of the molecule into the cell with the level of translocation into an otherwise identical cell contacted with the molecule, wherein a higher level of translocation of the molecule into the cell is an indication that the fusion peptide comprising the test adapter domain is capable of translocating the molecule into the cell, thereby identifying a fusion peptide comprising an adapter domain capable of translocating a molecule into a cell.

A method of facilitating translocation of a molecule across a cell membrane, the method comprising administering the molecule and an effective amount of a fusion peptide and a nucleic acid to the cell, wherein the fusion peptide and nucleic acid facilitate translocation of the molecule across the cell membrane, thereby translocating the molecule across the cell membrane.