Cationic peptides, Cys-Trp-(Lys)n, for gene delivery
AssigneeThe Reagents of the University of Michigan
InventorsKevin Gerard Rice, Manpreet S. Wadhwa
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Abstract
Compositions and methods are described for nucleic acid formulation for gene delivery. A new class of low molecular weight condensing agents, namely aromatic amino acid—containing peptides, are described for use in receptor-mediated and nonreceptor-mediated gene delivery, both in vivo and in vitro.
Claims26
A method comprising:
- a) providing:
- i) nucleic acid encoding one or more gene products, ii) a tryptophan-containing peptide of less than forty amino acids in length that binds to said nucleic acid, wherein said peptide comprises tryptophan, a single N-terminal cysteine and has the structure Cys-Trn-(ys)n, where n>3, and iii) a cell having a cell membrane;
- b) binding said tryptophan-containing peptide to said nucleic acid to make a complex;
- c) introducing said complex to said cell under conditions such that said complex is delivered across said cell membrane.
A method of delivering nucleic acid to cells, comprising:
- a) providing:
- i) a cell having a receptor, ii) a target binding moiety capable of binding to said receptor, iii) nucleic acid encoding one or more gene products, and iv) a tryptophan-substituted polylysine of less than forty amino acids in length that binds to said nucleic acid, wherein said substituted polylysine comprises tryptophan, a single N-terminal cysteine and has the structure Cys-Trp-(Lys)n, where n>3;
- b) conjugating said target binding moiety to said tryptophan-substituted polylysine to form a carrier,
- c) coupling said carrier with said nucleic acid to form a composition;
- and
- d) introducing said composition to said cell under conditions such that said nucleic acid is delivered to said cell.
A tryptophan-containing peptide of less than forty amino acids in length that binds to nucleic acid, wherein said peptide comprises tryptophan a single N-terminal cysteine and has the structure Cys-Trp-(Lys)n, where n>3.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.