Transduction of peptides and proteins into live cells by cell penetrating peptides.
Internalization of peptides and proteins into live cells is an essential prerequisite for studies on intracellular signal pathways, for treatment of certain microbial diseases and for signal transduction therapy, especially for cancer treatment. Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) facilitate the transport of cargo-proteins through the cell membrane into live cells. CPPs which allow formation of non-covalent complexes with the cargo are used primarily in this study due to the relatively easy handling procedure. Efficiency of the protein uptake is estimated qualitatively by fluorescence microscopy and quantitatively by SDS-PAGE. Using the CPP cocktail JBS-Proteoducin, the intracellular concentrations of a secondary antibody and bovine serum albumin can reach the micromolar range. Internalization of antibodies allows mediation of intracellular pathways including knock down of signal transduction. The high specificity and affinity of antibodies makes them potentially more powerful than siRNA. Thus, CPPs represent a significant new possibility to study signal transduction processes in competition or in comparison to the commonly used other techniques. To estimate the highest attainable intracellular concentrations of cargo proteins, the CPPs are tested for cytotoxicity. Cell viability and membrane integrity relative to concentration of CPPs are investigated. Viability as estimated by the reductive activity of mitochondria (MTT-test) is more sensitive to higher concentrations of CPPs versus membrane integrity, as measured by the release of dead cell protease. Distinct differences in uptake efficiency and cytotoxic effects are found using six different CPPs and six different adhesion and suspension cell lines.
Mussbach F
,Franke M
,Zoch A
,Schaefer B
,Reissmann S
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Transduction of proteins into leishmania tarentolae by formation of non-covalent complexes with cell-penetrating peptides.
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are used to transport peptides, proteins, different types of ribonucleic acids (or mimics of these molecules), and DNA into live cells, both plant and mammalian. Leishmania belongs to the class of protozoa having, in comparison to mammalian cells, a different lipid composition of the membrane, proteoglycans on the surface, and signal pathways. We investigated the uptake of two different and easily detectable proteins into the non-pathogenic strain Leishmania tarentolae. From the large number of CPPs available, six and a histone were chosen specifically for their ability to form non-covalent complexes. For Leishmania we used the enzyme β-galactosidase and fluorescent labeled bovine serum albumin as cargoes. The results are compared to similar internalization studies using mammalian cells [Mussbach et al., ]. Leishmania cells can degrade CPPs by a secreted and membrane-bound chymotrypsin-like protease. Both cargo proteins were internalized with sufficient efficiency and achieved intramolecular concentrations similar to mammalian cells. The transport efficiencies of the CPPs differed from each other, and showed a different rank order for both cargoes. The intracellular distribution of fluorescent-labeled bovine serum albumin showed highest concentrations in the nucleus and kinetoplast. Leishmania are susceptible to high concentrations of some CPPs, although comparably dissimilar to mammalian cells. MPG-peptides are more cytotoxic in Leishmania than in mammalian cells, acting as antimicrobial peptides. Our results contribute to a better understanding of molecular interactions in Leishmania cells and possibly to new treatments of leishmaniasis.
Keller AA
,Breitling R
,Hemmerich P
,Kappe K
,Braun M
,Wittig B
,Schaefer B
,Lorkowski S
,Reissmann S
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Cell penetration: scope and limitations by the application of cell-penetrating peptides.
The penetration of polar or badly soluble compounds through a cell membrane into live cells requires mechanical support or chemical helpers. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are very promising chemical helpers. Because of their low cytotoxicity and final degradation to amino acids, they are particularly favored in in vivo studies and for clinical applications. Clearly, the future of CPP research is bright; however, the required optimization studies for each drug require considerable individualized attention. Thus, CPPs are not the philosopher's stone. As of today, a large number of such transporter peptides with very different sequences have been identified. These have different uptake mechanisms and can transport different cargos. Intracellular concentrations of cargos can reach a low micromole range and are able to influence intracellular reactions. Internalized ribonucleic acids such as small interfering RNA (siRNA) and mimics of RNA such as peptide nucleic acids, morpholino nucleic acids, and triesters of oligonucleotides can influence transcription and translation. Despite the highly efficient internalization of antibodies, enzymes, and other protein factors, as well as siRNA and RNA mimics, the uptake and stabile insertion of DNA into the genome of the host cells remain substantially challenging. This review describes a wide array of differing CPPs, cargos, cell lines, and tissues. The application of CPPs is compared with electroporation, magnetofection, lipofection, viral vectors, dendrimers, and nanoparticles, including commercially available products. The limitations of CPPs include low cell and tissue selectivity of the first generation and the necessity for formation of fusion proteins, conjugates, or noncovalent complexes to different cargos and of cargo release from intracellular vesicles. Furthermore, the noncovalent complexes require a strong molar excess of CPPs, and extensive experimentation is required to determine the most optimal CPP for any given cargo and cell type. Yet to predict which CPP is optimal for any given target remains a complex question. More recently, there have been promising developments: the enhancement of cell specificity using activatable CPPs, specific transport into cell organelles by insertion of corresponding localization sequences, and the transport of drugs through blood-brain barriers, through the conjunctiva of eyes, skin, and into nerve cells. Proteins, siRNA, and mimics of oligonucleotides can be efficiently transported into cells and have been tested for treatment of certain diseases. The recent state of the art in CPP research is discussed together with the overall scope, limitations, and some recommendations for future research directions.
Reissmann S
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