A small-molecule carrier for the intracellular delivery of a membrane-impermeable protein with retained bioactivity.

ABSTRACT: Intracellular protein delivery has the potential to revolutionize cell-biological research and medicinal therapy, with broad applications in bioimaging, disease treatment, and genome editing. Herein, we demonstrate successful delivery of a functional protein, cytochrome c (CYC), by using a boron cluster anion as molecular carrier of the superchaotropic anion type (B₁₂Br₁₁OPr^2-). CYC was delivered into lipid bilayer vesicles as well as living cells, with a cellular uptake ratio approaching 90%. Mechanistic studies showed that CYC was internalized into cells through a permeation pathway directly into the cytoplasm, bypassing endosomal entrapment. Upon carrier-assisted internalization, CYC retained its bioactivity, as reflected by an induced cell apoptosis rat

SUBMITTER: Ma X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11536097 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature