Organelle Targeting Nanocarriers
OwnerFrancois Eudes, Trevor Macmillaninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided are organelle targeting nanocarriers, including peptides, which act to deliver biological molecules such as nucleic acids to non-nuclear organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts. Also provided are methods for genetic transformation of non-nuclear organelles using such nanocarriers.
Claims20
A method for delivering a nucleic acid to a non-nuclear organelle in a cell, the method comprising exposing the cell to a composition comprising at least one nucleic acid and at least one organelle targeting nanocarrier;
- wherein the at least one nucleic acid translocates across a cell membrane of the cell and enters the non-nuclear organelle in the presence of the at least one organelle targeting nanocarrier.
A method for producing a genetically modified plant cell, the method comprising:
- exposing a plant cell containing a non-nuclear organelle to a composition comprising at least one nucleic acid and at least one organelle targeting nanocarrier;
- wherein the at least one nucleic acid translocates across a cell membrane of the cell and enters the non-nuclear organelle in the presence of the at least one organelle targeting nanocarrier so as to transfect the non-nuclear organelle.
A method for producing a genetically modified animal cell, the method comprising:
- exposing an animal cell containing at least one mitochondrion to a composition comprising at least one nucleic acid and at least one mitochondrion targeting nanocarrier;
- wherein the at least one nucleic acid translocates across a cell membrane of the cell and enters the at least one mitochondrion in the presence of the at least one mitochondrion targeting nanocarrier so as to transfect the at least one mitochondrion.
A mitochondrion targeting nanocarrier wherein the mitochondrion targeting nanocarrier is a polypeptide having a mitochondrial targeting peptide sequence, a charge ratio of about 4 to about 7 and a hydrophilicity of about 0 to about −0.5.
A chloroplast targeting nanocarrier wherein the chloroplast targeting nanocarrier is a polypeptide having a chloroplast transit peptide sequence, a charge ratio of about 2 to about 4.2 and a hydrophilicity of about 0 to about −0.2.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.