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Delcros J, Ducarouge B, Abes R, Goldschneider D, Gibert B, Blachier J, Neves D, Mehlen P, Bernet A, Depil S. 368 NP137, the first humanized monoclonal antibody directed against netrin-1, exhibits antitumor activity by inducing dependence receptors-mediated cell death. Eur J Cancer 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/s0959-8049(14)70494-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Hassane FS, Abes R, El Andaloussi S, Lehto T, Sillard R, Langel U, Lebleu B. Insights into the cellular trafficking of splice redirecting oligonucleotides complexed with chemically modified cell-penetrating peptides. J Control Release 2011; 153:163-72. [PMID: 21536086 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2011.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2010] [Revised: 04/11/2011] [Accepted: 04/13/2011] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Conjugates of cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) and splice redirecting oligonucleotides (ON) display clinical potential as attested by in vivo experimentation in murine models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. However, micromolar concentrations of these conjugates are required to obtain biologically relevant responses as a consequence of extensive endosomal sequestration following endocytosis. Recent work from our group has demonstrated that appending stearic acid to CPPs increases their efficiency and that the inclusion of pH titrable entities leads to further improvement. Moreover, these modified CPPs form non covalent complexes with charged ON analogs or siRNAs, which allows decreasing the concentrations of ONs by nearly one log. These modified CPPs and the parent peptides have been compared here in the same in vitro model in terms of cell uptake, trafficking and splicing redirection activity. The increased splicing redirection activity of our modified CPPs cannot be explained by differences in cell uptake but rather by their enhanced ability to escape from endocytic vesicles. Accordingly, a clear correlation between membrane destabilizing activity and splicing redirection was observed using a liposome leakage assay. Studies of cellular trafficking for the most active PF6:ON complexes indicate uptake by clathrin-mediated endocytosis using either FACS cell uptake or a splicing redirection functional assay. Acidification of intracellular vesicles and membrane potential were found important for splicing redirection but not for cell uptake. These results do confirm that the increased potency of PF6:ON complexes is not due to the use of a non endocytic route of cell internalization as proposed for some CPPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatouma Said Hassane
- University Montpellier 2, UMR 5235 CNRS, place E. Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France
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Abes R, Arzumanov AA, Saleh AF, Said Hassane F, Gait MJ, Lebleu B. Splice redirection as a convenient assay to monitor CPP-ON efficiency and mechanism. Methods Mol Biol 2011; 683:307-20. [PMID: 21053139 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-60761-919-2_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Several strategies based on synthetic oligonucleotides (ON) have been proposed to control gene expression. As for most biomolecules, however, delivery has remained a major roadblock for in vivo applications. Conjugation of steric-block neutral DNA mimics, such as peptide nucleic acids (PNA) or phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotides (PMO), to cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) has recently been proposed as a new delivery strategy. It is particularly suitable for sequence-specific interference with pre-mRNA splicing, thus offering various applications in fundamental research and in therapeutics. The chemical synthesis of these CPP-ON conjugates will be described as well as easy-to-implement assays to monitor cellular uptake, endosome leakage, and efficiency of splicing redirection.
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Saleh AF, Arzumanov A, Abes R, Owen D, Lebleu B, Gait MJ. Synthesis and splice-redirecting activity of branched, arginine-rich peptide dendrimer conjugates of peptide nucleic acid oligonucleotides. Bioconjug Chem 2011; 21:1902-11. [PMID: 20879728 PMCID: PMC2963316 DOI: 10.1021/bc100275r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Arginine-rich cell-penetrating peptides have found excellent utility in cell and in vivo models for enhancement of delivery of attached charge-neutral PNA or PMO oligonucleotides. We report the synthesis of dendrimeric peptides containing 2- or 4-branched arms each having one or more R-Ahx-R motifs and their disulfide conjugation to a PNA705 splice-redirecting oligonucleotide. Conjugates were assayed in a HeLa pLuc705 cell assay for luciferase up-regulation and splicing redirection. Whereas 8-Arg branched peptide−PNA conjugates showed poor activity compared to a linear (R-Ahx-R)4−PNA conjugate, 2-branched and some 4-branched 12 and 16 Arg peptide−PNA conjugates showed activity similar to that of the corresponding linear peptide−PNA conjugates. Many of the 12- and 16-Arg conjugates retained significant activity in the presence of serum. Evidence showed that biological activity in HeLa pLuc705 cells of the PNA conjugates of branched and linear (R-Ahx-R) peptides is associated with an energy-dependent uptake pathway, predominantly clathrin-dependent, but also with some caveolae dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amer F Saleh
- Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Ivanova GD, Fabani MM, Arzumanov AA, Abes R, Yin H, Lebleu B, Wood M, Gait MJ. PNA-peptide conjugates as intracellular gene control agents. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010:31-2. [PMID: 18776238 DOI: 10.1093/nass/nrn016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Serum-stabilized PNA-internalization peptides (Pip) conjugated to PNA complementary to the 705 aberrant beta-globin splice site are able to correct splicing and increase luciferase production in Hela pLuc705 cells with sub microM EC(50) in the absence of a transfection agent. Inhibition of microRNA-122 in liver cells is achieved by treatment with complementary PNA containing just a few attached Lys residues, again without need of a transfection agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela D Ivanova
- Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
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Said Hassane F, Saleh AF, Abes R, Gait MJ, Lebleu B. Cell penetrating peptides: overview and applications to the delivery of oligonucleotides. Cell Mol Life Sci 2009; 67:715-26. [PMID: 19898741 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-009-0186-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2009] [Revised: 10/02/2009] [Accepted: 10/15/2009] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Crossing biological barriers represents a major limitation for clinical applications of biomolecules such as nucleic acids, peptides or proteins. Cell penetrating peptides (CPP), also named protein transduction domains, comprise short and usually basic amino acids-rich peptides originating from proteins able to cross biological barriers, such as the viral Tat protein, or are rationally designed. They have emerged as a new class of non-viral vectors allowing the delivery of various biomolecules across biological barriers from low molecular weight drugs to nanosized particles. Encouraging data with CPP-conjugated oligonucleotides have been obtained both in vitro and in vivo in animal models of diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Whether CPP-cargo conjugates enter cells by direct translocation across the plasma membrane or by endocytosis remains controversial. In many instances, however, endosomal escape appears as a major limitation of this new delivery strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Said Hassane
- UMR 5235 CNRS, Dynamique des Interactions Membranaires Normales et Pathologiques, Université Montpellier 2, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
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Lehto T, Abes R, Oskolkov N, Suhorutsenko J, Copolovici DM, Mäger I, Viola JR, Simonson OE, Ezzat K, Guterstam P, Eriste E, Smith CIE, Lebleu B, Samir El Andaloussi, Langel U. Delivery of nucleic acids with a stearylated (RxR)4 peptide using a non-covalent co-incubation strategy. J Control Release 2009; 141:42-51. [PMID: 19744531 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2009.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2009] [Revised: 08/21/2009] [Accepted: 08/28/2009] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, oligonucleotide-based molecules have been intensely used to modulate gene expression. All these molecules share the common feature of being essentially impermeable over cellular membranes and they therefore require efficient delivery vectors. Cell-penetrating peptides are a group of delivery peptides that has been readily used for nucleic acid delivery. In particular, polyarginine and derivates thereof, i.e. the (RxR)(4) peptide, have been applied with success both in vitro and in vivo. A major problem, however, with these arginine-rich peptides is that they frequently remain trapped in endosomal compartments following internalization. The activity of polyarginine has previously been improved by conjugation to a stearyl moiety. Therefore, we sought to investigate what impact such modification would have on the pre-clinically used (RxR)(4) peptide for non-covalent delivery of plasmids and splice-correcting oligonucleotides (SCOs) and compare it with stearylated Arg9 and Lipofectamine 2000. We show that stearyl-(RxR)(4) mediates efficient plasmid transfections in several cell lines and the expression levels are significantly higher than when using unmodified (RxR)(4) or stearylated Arg9. Although the transfection efficiency is lower than with Lipofectamine 2000, we show that stearyl-(RxR)(4) is substantially less toxic. Furthermore, using a functional splice-correction assay, we show that stearyl-(RxR)(4) complexed with 2'-OMe SCOs promotes significant splice correction whereas stearyl-Arg9 fails to do so. Moreover, stearyl-(RxR)(4) promotes dose-dependent splice correction in parity with (RxR)(4)-PMO covalent conjugates, but at least 10-times lower concentration. These features make this stearic acid modified analog of (RxR)(4) an intriguing vector for future in vivo experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taavi Lehto
- Laboratory of Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
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Hassane FS, Ivanova GD, Bolewska-Pedyczak E, Abes R, Arzumanov AA, Gait MJ, Lebleu B, Gariépy J. A peptide-based dendrimer that enhances the splice-redirecting activity of PNA conjugates in cells. Bioconjug Chem 2009; 20:1523-30. [PMID: 19591462 DOI: 10.1021/bc900075p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The full therapeutic potential of oligonucleotide (ON)-based agents has been hampered by cellular delivery challenges. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) represent promising delivery vectors for nucleic acids, and their potential has recently been evaluated using a functional splicing redirection assay, which capitalizes on the nuclear delivery of splice-correcting steric-block ON analogues such as peptide nucleic acids (PNA). Despite encouraging in vitro and in vivo data with arginine-rich CPP-steric block conjugates, mechanistic studies have shown that entrapment within the endosome/lysosome compartment after endocytosis remains a limiting factor. Previous work from our group has shown that CPP oligomerization greatly improves cellular delivery and increases transfection of plasmid DNA. We now report the chemical synthesis and the evaluation of multivalent CPP-PNA constructs incorporating monomeric (p53(mono)) and dendrimer-like tetrameric (p53(tet)) forms of the p53 tetramerization domain containing peptide, a 10 arginine CPP domain (R10), and a splice redirecting PNA (PNA705). These CPP-PNA conjugates were termed R10p53(tet)-PNA705 and R10p53(mono)-PNA705, referring to their oligomerization state. The present study demonstrates that the splicing redirection efficiency of PNA705 is much greater in the context of the tetrameric R10p53(tet)-PNA705 construct than for the monomeric and occurs at nanomolar concentrations, demonstrating that multivalency is an important factor in delivering PNA into cells.
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Ivanova GD, Arzumanov A, Abes R, Yin H, Wood MJA, Lebleu B, Gait MJ. Improved cell-penetrating peptide-PNA conjugates for splicing redirection in HeLa cells and exon skipping in mdx mouse muscle. Nucleic Acids Res 2008; 36:6418-28. [PMID: 18842625 PMCID: PMC2582604 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkn671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Steric blocking peptide nucleic acid (PNA) oligonucleotides have been used increasingly for redirecting RNA splicing particularly in therapeutic applications such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Covalent attachment of a cell-penetrating peptide helps to improve cell delivery of PNA. We have used a HeLa pLuc705 cell splicing redirection assay to develop a series of PNA internalization peptides (Pip) conjugated to an 18-mer PNA705 model oligonucleotide with higher activity compared to a PNA705 conjugate with a leading cell-penetrating peptide being developed for therapeutic use, (R-Ahx-R)4. We show that Pip–PNA705 conjugates are internalized in HeLa cells by an energy-dependent mechanism and that the predominant pathway of cell uptake of biologically active conjugate seems to be via clathrin-dependent endocytosis. In a mouse model of DMD, serum-stabilized Pip2a or Pip2b peptides conjugated to a 20-mer PNA (PNADMD) targeting the exon 23 mutation in the dystrophin gene showed strong exon-skipping activity in differentiated mdx mouse myotubes in culture in the absence of an added transfection agent at concentrations where naked PNADMD was inactive. Injection of Pip2a-PNADMD or Pip2b-PNADMD into the tibealis anterior muscles of mdx mice resulted in ∼3-fold higher numbers of dystrophin-positive fibres compared to naked PNADMD or (R-Ahx-R)4-PNADMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela D Ivanova
- Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK
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Abes R, Moulton HM, Clair P, Yang ST, Abes S, Melikov K, Prevot P, Youngblood DS, Iversen PL, Chernomordik LV, Lebleu B. Delivery of steric block morpholino oligomers by (R-X-R)4 peptides: structure-activity studies. Nucleic Acids Res 2008; 36:6343-54. [PMID: 18796528 PMCID: PMC2582615 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkn541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Redirecting the splicing machinery through the hybridization of high affinity, RNase H- incompetent oligonucleotide analogs such as phosphoramidate morpholino oligonucleotides (PMO) might lead to important clinical applications. Chemical conjugation of PMO to arginine-rich cell penetrating peptides (CPP) such as (R-Ahx-R)4 (with Ahx standing for 6-aminohexanoic acid) leads to sequence-specific splicing correction in the absence of endosomolytic agents in cell culture at variance with most conventional CPPs. Importantly, (R-Ahx-R)4–PMO conjugates are effective in mouse models of various viral infections and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Unfortunately, active doses in some applications might be close to cytotoxic ones thus presenting challenge for systemic administration of the conjugates in those clinical settings. Structure–activity relationship studies have thus been undertaken to unravel CPP structural features important for the efficient nuclear delivery of the conjugated PMO and limiting steps in their internalization pathway. Affinity for heparin (taken as a model heparan sulfate), hydrophobicity, cellular uptake, intracellular distribution and splicing correction have been monitored. Spacing between the charges, hydrophobicity of the linker between the Arg-groups and Arg-stereochemistry influence splicing correction efficiency. A significant correlation between splicing correction efficiency, affinity for heparin and ability to destabilize model synthetic vesicles has been observed but no correlation with cellular uptake has been found. Efforts will have to focus on endosomal escape since it appears to remain the limiting factor for the delivery of these splice-redirecting ON analogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachida Abes
- UMR 5235 CNRS, Université Montpellier 2, Place Eugene Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France
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Abes R, Arzumanov A, Moulton H, Abes S, Ivanova G, Gait MJ, Iversen P, Lebleu B. Arginine-rich cell penetrating peptides: design, structure-activity, and applications to alter pre-mRNA splicing by steric-block oligonucleotides. J Pept Sci 2008; 14:455-60. [PMID: 18236382 DOI: 10.1002/psc.979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Rerouting the splicing machinery with steric-block oligonucleotides (ON) might lead to new therapeutic strategies in the treatment of diseases such as beta-thalassemia, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, or cancers. Interfering with splicing requires the sequence-specific and stable hybridization of RNase H-incompetent ON as peptide nucleic acids (PNA) or phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMO). Unfortunately, these uncharged DNA mimics are poorly taken up by most cell types and conventional delivery strategies that rely on electrostatic interaction do not apply. Likewise, conjugation to cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) as Tat, Arg9, Lys8, or Pen leads to poor splicing correction efficiency at low concentration essentially because PNA- and PMO-CPP conjugates remain entrapped within endocytotic vesicles. Recently, we have designed an arginine-rich peptide (R-Ahx-R)4 (with Ahx for aminohexanoic acid) and an arginine-tailed Penetratin derivative which allow sequence-specific and efficient splicing correction at low concentration in the absence of endosomolytic agents. Both CPPs are undergoing structure-activity relationship studies for further optimization as steric-block ON delivery vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Abes
- UMR 5235 CNRS, Université Montpellier 2, Place Eugene Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France
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Lebleu B, Moulton HM, Abes R, Ivanova GD, Abes S, Stein DA, Iversen PL, Arzumanov AA, Gait MJ. Cell penetrating peptide conjugates of steric block oligonucleotides. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2008; 60:517-29. [PMID: 18037527 PMCID: PMC7103303 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2007.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2007] [Accepted: 09/10/2007] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Charge neutral steric block oligonucleotide analogues, such as peptide nucleic acids (PNA) or phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMO), have promising biological and pharmacological properties for antisense applications, such as for example in mRNA splicing redirection. However, cellular uptake of free oligomers is poor and the utility of conjugates of PNA or PMO to cell penetrating peptides (CPP), such as Tat or Penetratin, is limited by endosomal sequestration. Two new families of arginine-rich CPPs named (R-Ahx-R)(4) AhxB and R(6)Pen allow efficient nuclear delivery of splice correcting PNA and PMO at micromolar concentrations in the absence of endosomolytic agents. The in vivo efficacy of (R-Ahx-R)(4) AhxB PMO conjugates has been demonstrated in mouse models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and in various viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Lebleu
- UMR 5235 CNRS, Université Montpellier 2, Place Eugene Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France.
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Abes R, Arzumanov AA, Moulton HM, Abes S, Ivanova GD, Iversen PL, Gait MJ, Lebleu B. Cell-penetrating-peptide-based delivery of oligonucleotides: an overview. Biochem Soc Trans 2007; 35:775-9. [PMID: 17635146 DOI: 10.1042/bst0350775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Cationic CPPs (cell-penetrating peptides) have been used largely for intracellular delivery of low-molecular-mass drugs, biomolecules and particles. Most cationic CPPs bind to cell-associated glycosaminoglycans and are internalized by endocytosis, although the detailed mechanisms involved remain controversial. Sequestration and degradation in endocytic vesicles severely limits the efficiency of cytoplasmic and/or nuclear delivery of CPP-conjugated material. Re-routing the splicing machinery by using steric-block ON (oligonucleotide) analogues, such as PNAs (peptide nucleic acids) or PMOs (phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers), has consequently been inefficient when ONs are conjugated with standard CPPs such as Tat (transactivator of transcription), R(9) (nona-arginine), K(8) (octalysine) or penetratin in the absence of endosomolytic agents. New arginine-rich CPPs such as (R-Ahx-R)(4) (6-aminohexanoic acid-spaced oligo-arginine) or R(6) (hexa-arginine)-penetratin conjugated to PMO or PNA resulted in efficient splicing correction at non-cytotoxic doses in the absence of chloroquine. SAR (structure-activity relationship) analyses are underway to optimize these peptide delivery vectors and to understand their mechanisms of cellular internalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Abes
- UMR 5235 CNRS, Université Montpellier 2, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France
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