Exogenous and cell surface glycosaminoglycans alter DNA delivery efficiency of arginine and lysine homopeptides in distinctly different ways.

ABSTRACT: Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) expressed ubiquitously on the cell surface are known to interact with a variety of ligands to mediate different cellular processes. However, their role in the internalization of cationic gene delivery vectors such as liposomes, polymers, and peptides is still ambiguous and seems to be controlled by multiple factors. In this report, taking peptides as model systems, we show that peptide chemistry is one of the key factors that determine the dependence on cell surface glycosaminoglycans for cellular internalization and gene delivery. Arginine peptides and their complexes with plasmid DNA show efficient uptake and functional gene transfer independent of the cell surface GAGs. On the other hand, lysine peptides and complexes primarily enter through a GAG-dependent pat

SUBMITTER: Naik RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3099713 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature