Enzyme-triggered cargo release from methionine sulfoxide containing copolypeptide vesicles

Biomacromolecules. 2013 Oct 14;14(10):3610-4. doi: 10.1021/bm400971p. Epub 2013 Sep 9.

Abstract

We have developed a facile, scalable method for preparation of enzyme-responsive copolypeptide vesicles that requires no protecting groups or expensive components. We designed amphiphilic copolypeptides containing segments of water-soluble methionine sulfoxide, M(O), residues that were prepared by synthesis of a fully hydrophobic precursor diblock copolypeptide, poly(l-methionine)65-b-poly(L-leucine0.5-stat-L-phenylalanine0.5)20, M65(L0.5/F0.5)20, followed by its direct oxidation in water to give the amphiphilic M(O) derivative, M(O)65(L0.5/F0.5)20. Assembly of M(O)65(L0.5/F0.5)20 in water gave vesicles with average diameters of a few micrometers that could then be extruded to nanoscale diameters. The M(O) segments in the vesicles were found to be substrates for reductase enzymes, which regenerated hydrophobic M segments and resulted in a change in supramolecular morphology that caused vesicle disruption and release of cargos.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Methionine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Methionine / chemistry
  • Methionine / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Oxidoreductases / metabolism*
  • Particle Size
  • Peptides / chemical synthesis
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Peptides / metabolism*
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Surface Properties
  • Surface-Active Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Surface-Active Agents / chemistry
  • Surface-Active Agents / metabolism

Substances

  • Peptides
  • Surface-Active Agents
  • Methionine
  • Oxidoreductases
  • methionine sulfoxide