TAT Κappa (TATΚ): A Novel Cell Penetrating Peptide for Delivery of Pluripotent Proteins into Target Cells

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) holds a magnificent place in the medical revolution. Its emergence is expected to instigate development of novel therapies for regenerative medicine and treatment malignant diseases. Moreover, iPSC usage also resolved long-time ethical controversy on embryo as cells source. Since Yamanaka’s discovery 2006, several pieces research have proven that enforced expression transcription factors Oct-3/4, KLF4, Sox2 can induce reprogramming previously differentiated cells, generate iPSC. However, conventional method using viral vectors leads genetic modification due exogene integration subsequently tumorigenicity, which unsafe clinical application. Therefore, our study utilised an improved protein transduction domain, trans-activator kappa (TAT), synthetic TAT-HIV deliver these gene alternative generation via non-viral reprogramming. With this new strategy, we established stable clone 293T expressing TATk fusion proteins (TATκ-GFP, TATκ-KLF4, TATκ-Sox2, TATκ-Oct-3/4) expresses secretes their respective cloned proteins. These clones successfully transduced target (U937) monocyte line. TATκ-GFP, marker TATκ-Oct-3/4 targeted line, proving TATκ possesses ability translocate across membrane. Morphological changes were observed U937 after 20 days transduction, however presence bonifide colonies unable be elicited. This might incomplete or insufficient duration cells.