Peptide-Based Polyion Complex Vesicles That Deliver Enzymes into Intact Plants To Provide Antibiotic Resistance without Genetic Modification

Biomacromolecules. 2021 Mar 8;22(3):1080-1090. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c01380. Epub 2020 Dec 14.

Abstract

Direct delivery of enzymes into intact plants using cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) is an attractive approach for modifying plant functions without genetic modification. However, by conventional methods, it is difficult to maintain the enzyme activity for a long time because of proteolysis of the enzymes under physiological conditions. Here, we developed a novel enzyme delivery system using polyion complex vesicles (PICsomes) to protect the enzyme from proteases. We created PICsome-bearing reactive groups at the surface by mixing an anionic block copolymer, alkyne-TEG-P(Lys-COOH), and a cationic peptide, P(Lys). The PICsome encapsulated neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPTII), a kanamycin resistance enzyme, and protected NPTII from proteases in vitro. A CPP-modified PICsome delivered NPTII into the root hair cells of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings and provided kanamycin resistance in the seedlings that lasted for 7 days. Thus, the PICsome-mediated enzyme delivery system is a promising method for imparting long-term transient traits to plants without genetic modification.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis*
  • Cations
  • Cell-Penetrating Peptides*
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial
  • Polymers

Substances

  • Cations
  • Cell-Penetrating Peptides
  • Polymers