Challenges and Methods for the Study of CPP Translocation Mechanisms

Abstract

Fluorescence-based methods are widely used to detect crossing of peptides across model or biological membranes. For membrane-active peptides, i.e., peptides that have strong membrane tropism, fluorescence experiments must be accompanied by relevant controls, otherwise they can lead to inconsistent interpretation and underestimation of their limitations. Here we describe how to prepare samples to study fluorescent peptide crossing droplet interface bilayer (model membrane) or cell membrane (biological membrane) and the pitfalls that can affect observational qualitative and quantitative data.

Keywords: Biological cell membrane; Droplet interface bilayer; Flow cytometry; Fluorescence spectroscopy; Internalization; Membrane translocation; Model membrane; Peptide; Quantification.