title: Cellular entry and nuclear targeting by a highly anionic molecular umbrella.
abstract: A fluorescently labeled, persulfated molecular umbrella ( 1) has been synthesized from cholic acid, lysine, spermine, and Coumarin 343 and found capable of entering live HeLa cells. The distributions of 1 throughout the cytoplasm and the nucleus were diffuse and punctate, respectively. This finding, together with its ability to cross liposomal membranes by passive diffusion, suggests that passive diffusion plays a significant role in the ability of 1 to enter cells. The fact that 1 is concentrated at the nucleus raises the possibility that molecular umbrellas of this type could be used for the nuclear targeting of drugs.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, USA.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehiri
authors.forename: Bingwen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ringhoff
authors.forename: Vaclav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Janout
authors.forename: Lynne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cassimeris
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Regen
mesh_terms: D000838:Anions / Q000737:chemistry; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000378:metabolism; D008081:Liposomes / Q000378:metabolism; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000838:Anions; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008081:Liposomes; D010455:Peptides; D014867:Water