Fluorophore labeling of a cell-penetrating peptide significantly alters the mode and degree of biomembrane interaction.

ABSTRACT: The demand for highly efficient macromolecular drugs, used in the treatment of many severe diseases, is continuously increasing. However, the hydrophilic character and large molecular size of these drugs significantly limit their ability to permeate across cellular membranes and thus impede the drugs in reaching their target sites in the body. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) have gained attention as promising drug excipients, since they can facilitate drug permeation across cell membranes constituting a major biological barrier. Fluorophores are frequently covalently conjugated to CPPs to improve detection, however, the ensuing change in physico-chemical properties of the CPPs may alter their biological properties. With complementary biophysical techniques, we show that the mode of biomemb

SUBMITTER: Hedegaard SF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5910404 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature