Peptide-mediated transfection agents and methods of use

A transfection agent comprising a peptide of between about 16 to 30 amino acid residues, said peptide comprising:

• a) a hydrophobic domain comprising at least four amino acid residues, wherein the hydrophobic domain comprises three to five aromatic amino acid residues and a first hydrophobic locus spaced by at least one amino acid residue from a second hydrohpobic locus, wherein each of the first and second hydrophobic loci comprise one or more hydrophobic amino acid residues independently selected from the group consisting of Phe, Tyr, Trp, Thr, Met, Leu, Val, Ile, Ala, and His;
• b) a hydrophilic domain comprising up to about twelve amino acid residues, wherein the hydrophilic domain comprises a plurality of basic amino acid residues;
• c) optionally a spacer sequence between said hydrophobic and said hydrophilic domain, wherein said spacer comprises from between one to about ten amino acid residues;
• and
• d) further optionally a functional group conjugated to one or more termini of said peptide.

A transfection agent comprising a peptide of between about 16 to 30 amino acid residues, said peptide comprising:

• a) a hydrophobic domain comprising at least four amino acid residues, wherein the hydrophobic domain comprises a plurality of aromatic amino acid residues and a first hydrophobic locus spaced by at least one amino acid residue from a second hydrohpobic locus, wherein each of the first and second hydrophobic loci comprise one or more hydrophobic amino acid residues independently selected from the group consisting of Phe, Tyr, Trp, Thr, Met, Leu, Val, Ile, Ala, and His;
• b) a hydrophilic domain comprising up to about 12 amino acid residues, wherein the hydrophilic domain comprises a plurality of basic amino acid residues;
• c) optionally a spacer sequence between said hydrophobic and said hydrophilic domains, wherein said spacer comprises from between one to about ten amino acid residues;
• and
• d) further optionally a functional group conjugated to one or more termini of said peptide.

A transfection agent comprising a peptide of between about 16 to 30 amino acid residues in length, said peptide comprising:

• a) a hydrophobic domain comprising at least four amino acid residues, wherein the hydrophobic domain comprises a first hydrophobic locus spaced by at least one amino acid residue from a second hydrohpobic locus, wherein each of the first and second hydrophobic loci comprise one or more hydrophobic amino acid residues independently selected from the group consisting of Phe, Tyr, Trp, Thr, Met, Leu, Val, Ile, Ala, and His;
• b) a hydrophilic domain comprising up to about 12 amino acid residues, wherein the hydrophilic domain comprises a plurality of basic amino acid residues;
• c) optionally a spacer sequence between said hydrophobic and said hydrophilic domains, wherein said spacer comprises from between one to about ten amino acid residues;
• and
• d) further optionally a functional group conjugated to one or more termini of said peptide,
• wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 1 through 12.

A commercial transfection kit comprising at least one transfection agent comprising a peptide of between about 16 to 30 amino acid residues, said peptide comprising:

• a) a hydrophobic domain comprising at least four amino acid residues, wherein the hydrophobic domain comprises a first hydrophobic locus spaced by at least one amino acid residue from a second hydrohpobic locus, wherein each of the first and second hydrophobic loci comprise one or more hydrophobic amino acid residues independently selected from the group consisting of Phe, Tyr, Trp, Thr, Met, Leu, Val, Ile, Ala, and His;
• b) a hydrophilic domain comprising up to about 12 amino acid residues, wherein the hydrophilic domain comprises a plurality of basic amino acid residues;
• c) optionally a spacer sequence between said hydrophobic and said hydrophilic domains, wherein said spacer comprises from between one to about ten amino acid residues;
• and
• d) further optionally a functional group conjugated to one or more termini of said peptide,
• wherein the transfection agent is in either aqueous or lyophilized form, and wherein said kit further comprises one or more components selected from the group consisting of buffers, positive controls, cells to be transfected, phospholipids, and instructions for use.