DNA Condensation by Peptide-Conjugated PAMAM Dendrimers. Influence of Peptide Charge.

ABSTRACT: Nucleic acid delivery to cells is an important therapeutic strategy that requires the transport of nucleic acids to intracellular compartments and their protection from enzymatic degradation. This can be achieved through the complexation of the nucleic acids with polycations. Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers and peptide-conjugated dendrimers have been investigated as delivery vectors. Inspired by these studies and the role of flexible peptide domains in protein-DNA interactions, we studied the impact of conjugating two peptides (tails) to generation 2 (G2) PAMAM dendrimers on DNA condensation and polyplex formation. Using gel electrophoresis, dye exclusion assays, atomic force microscopy, and Monte Carlo simulations, it is shown that the steric impact of neutral peptide tails is to hind

SUBMITTER: Dannert C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10688094 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature