Noncationic Rigid and Anisotropic Coiled-Coil Proteins Exhibit Cell-Penetration Activity

Langmuir. 2015 Aug 4;31(30):8218-23. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b01219. Epub 2015 Jul 24.

Abstract

Numerous cationic peptides that penetrate cells have been studied intensively as drug delivery system carriers for cellular delivery. However, cationic molecules tend to be cytotoxic and cause inflammation, and their stability in the blood is usually low. We have previously demonstrated that a rigid and fibrous cationic coiled-coil protein exhibited cell-penetrating ability superior to that of previously reported cell-penetrating peptides. Making use of structural properties, here we describe the cell-penetrating activity of a rigid and fibrous coiled-coil protein with a noncationic surface. A fibrous coiled-coil protein of pI 6.5 penetrated 100% of the cells tested in vitro at a concentration of 500 nM, which is comparable to that of previously reported cell-penetrating peptides. We also investigated the effect of cell-strain dependency and short-term cytotoxicity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Anisotropy
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cell-Penetrating Peptides / chemistry
  • Cell-Penetrating Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • K562 Cells
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Cell-Penetrating Peptides