A novel 11-residual peptaibol-derived carrier peptide for in vitro oligodeoxynucleotide delivery into cell

Using a pore- and channel-forming peptide, TV-XIIa, which is an 11-residual peptaibol isolated from the fungus Trichoderma viride, we developed a vehicle for the cellular delivery of such polar biologically active agents as antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs). To function as an ODN carrier, basic amino acids, 10-mer of lysine, were conjugated to the C-terminus of TV-XIIa and the designed carrier peptide, Ac-U-N-I-I-U-P-L-L-U-P-I-K-K-K-K-K-K-K-K-K-K-OH (U: α-aminoisobutyric acid), was synthesized by the Fmoc-based solid-phase method. The complex between the carrier peptide and ODNs, which was electrostatically formed, was capable of crossing the membranes of NIH3T3 cells and the ODNs were accumulated in the cytoplasm and the nucleus. However, the complex was not taken up by A549 cells. The translocation of the complex occurred at both 4 and 37 °C in NIH3T3 cells and did not seem to involve an energy-dependent endocytic process.