Transmembrane polypeptide and methods of use
AssigneeYale University
InventorsDonald M. Engelman, John F. Hunt
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Abstract
A water-soluble polypeptide having the characteristics of the bacteriorhodopsin C helix such that it is largely hydrophobic and spontaneously inserts into a biological membrane as an alpha-helix. The polypeptide is administered as an aqueous solution or is contained within the lipid bilayer of a liposome. The polypeptide is modified so that it will interfere with the helix--helix interactions within the membranes of adverse cells or is coupled to a therapeutic substance, such as a protein or pharmaceutical compound, for transmission thereof through the membrane and into the cell.
Claims10
An isolated or synthetic polypeptide comprising
- a polypeptide derived from a bacteriorhodopsin C molecule,
- wherein the polypeptide includes a hydrophobic water-soluble amino acid sequence containing twenty amino acids which forms an alpha-helix capable of spanning the lipid bilayer of a cell and an amino acid which is susceptible to acid or base titration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.