Stimulated endocytosis in penetratin uptake: Effect of arginine and lysine
Journal article, 2008

Cell-penetrating peptides can deliver macromolecular cargo into cells and show promise as vectors for intracellular drug delivery. Internalization occurs predominantly via endocytosis, but the exact uptake mechanisms are not fully understood. We show quantitatively how penetratin, a 16-residue cationic peptide, stimulates fluid-phase endocytosis and triggers its own uptake into Chinese hamster ovarian cells, using a 70 kDa dextran to indicate macropinocytosis. The total cellular endocytotic rate is significantly less affected and we therefore propose up-regulation of macropinocytosis to occur at the expense of other types of endocytosis. By comparing penetratin to its analogs PenArg and PenLys, enriched in arginines and lysines, respectively, we show how these side-chains contribute to uptake efficiency. The degree of peptide and dextran uptake follows similar patterns regarding peptide concentration and arginine/lysine content (PenArg > penetratin > PenLys), indicating that a high content of arginines is beneficial but not necessary for stimulating endocytosis.

Author

Helene Åmand

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Physical Chemistry

Kristina Fant

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Physical Chemistry

Bengt Nordén

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Physical Chemistry

Elin Esbjörner Winters

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Physical Chemistry

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

0006-291X (ISSN) 1090-2104 (eISSN)

Vol. 371 4 621-625

Subject Categories

Physical Chemistry

DOI

10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.04.039

More information

Created

10/6/2017