Getting hydrophilic compounds into cells: lessons from homeopeptides.
The homeodomain of Antennapedia, a Drosophila transcription factor, translocates across biological membranes. Within this 60-amino-acid polypeptide, a shorter sequence of 16 amino acids was identified that can be used as an internalization vector for several types of cargo (i.e. other peptides and oligonucleotides) into the cytoplasm and nucleus of all cell types. This article describes our present understanding of this phenomenon and discusses its potential applications in cell biology.
Prochiantz
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CNRS URA 1414, Ecole, Normale, Superieure, Paris, France. prochian@wotan.ens.fr
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D051943:Antennapedia Homeodomain Protein; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008961:Models, Structural; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D017354:Point Mutation; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D051943:Antennapedia Homeodomain Protein; C497974:Antp protein, Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors