Peptides whose uptake by cells is controllable
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsTao Jiang, Emilia S. Olson, Michael Whitney, Roger Tsien
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Abstract
A generic structure for the peptides of the present invention includes A-X-B-C, where C is a cargo moiety, the B portion includes basic amino acids, X is a cleavable linker sequence, and the A portion includes acidic amino acids. The intact structure is not significantly taken up by cells; however, upon extracellular cleavage of X, the B-C portion is taken up, delivering the cargo to targeted cells. Cargo may be, for example, a contrast agent for diagnostic imaging, a chemotherapeutic drug, or a radiation-sensitizer for therapy. X may be cleaved extracellularly or intracellularly. The molecules of the present invention may be linear, cyclic, branched, or have a mixed structure.
Claims6
A method for labeling a cell, comprising contacting the cell with a molecule comprising the structure
- A-X-B-C (Formula I),
- wherein
- C is a fluorescent moiety,
- B is a peptide sequence comprising a series of 8 D-arginine residues,
- A is a peptide sequence comprising a series of 5 glutamate residues, and
- X is a cleavable linker.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.