Cell-penetrating peptides Uptake, stability and biological activity

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have emerged as a group of remarkable delivery vectors for various hydrophilic macromolecules, otherwise excluded from cells due to the protective plasma membrane. Unbiased conclusions regarding e.g. uptake mechanism, intracellular distribution and cargo delivery efficacy is complicated by the use of different methodological parameters by different laboratories. The first paper in this thesis introduced unifying protocols enabling comparison of results from different research groups. One of these methods, HPLC, was used in paper II to investigate CPP uptake and degradation in yeasts. Both parameters varied depending on peptide and yeast species; however pVEC emerged as a promising delivery vector in yeast since it internalized into both species tested without concomitant degradation. Protein mimicry was another investigated phenomenon and in paper III a 22-mer peptide from the p14Arf protein (Arf (1-22)) was found to be sufficient for retaining its function as a tumor suppressor. This peptide comprised a combination of apoptogenic property and CPP in one unity, thus providing opportunity to conjugate cytotoxic agents boosting the tumoricidal activity. Surprisingly, a partially inverted control peptide to Arf (1-22), called M918, was found to be an extraordinary CPP. In paper IV, it was shown to be superior to well-established CPPs in delivery of both peptide nucleic acids and proteins. Albeit the promising results these two peptides displayed, their utility in vivo, as with all peptides, is hampered by rapid degradation. With the aim of improving their stability, Arf (1-22) and M918 were synthesized with D-amino acids in the reverse order, a modification called retro-inverso (RI) isomerization. Their cell-penetrating ability was retained, but the treated cells displayed unexpected morphological alterations indicative of apoptosis. The presented results demonstrate the versatility of CPPs, functioning as vectors in both yeast and mammalian cells and as protein mimicking peptides with biological activity. Their potential as drug delivery agents is obvious; however, peptide degradation is an issue that requires further improvements before clinical success is in reach.