Improved cytosolic translocation and tumor-killing activity of Tat-shepherdin conjugates mediated by co-treatment with Tat-fused endosome-disruptive HA2 peptide

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2007 Nov 30;363(4):1027-32. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.09.077. Epub 2007 Sep 29.

Abstract

Tat peptides are useful carriers for delivering biologic molecules into the cell for both functional analysis of intracellular disease-related proteins and treatment of refractory diseases. Most internalized Tat-fused cargos (Tat-cargos) are trapped within the endosome, however, which limits the biologic function of the cargo. In this study, we demonstrated that Tat-fused HA2 peptide (HA2Tat), an endosome disrupted peptide, enhanced the endosome-escape efficiency of Tat-cargos. In cells treated with a mixture of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled Tat and HA2Tat, widespread fluorescence was observed throughout the cytosol. In addition, this HA2Tat-mediated cytosolic delivery technique led to enhanced cytotoxicity of Tat-fused anti-cancer peptides, specifically shepherdin. Thus, we improved the function of the delivered molecules by co-treating with HA2Tat and propose that this is a useful method for the delivery of therapeutic macromolecules into the cytosol.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival
  • Cytosol / metabolism*
  • Endosomes / metabolism*
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Peptide Fragments / genetics
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism*
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Peptides / metabolism*
  • Protein Transport
  • tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / genetics
  • tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / metabolism*

Substances

  • Peptide Fragments
  • Peptides
  • shepherdin
  • tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate