Identification of a novel cell-penetrating peptide from human phosphatidate phosphatase LPIN3

Mol Cells. 2012 Dec;34(6):577-82. doi: 10.1007/s10059-012-0284-y. Epub 2012 Dec 13.

Abstract

Biomolecules such as proteins, DNA, and RNA are macromolecules and can not cross the cell membrane. However, cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) has been shown to deliver therapeutic biomolecules successfully into cells. The various and widely used CPPs including TAT, VP22, and Antp are mostly non-human originated CPPs, and are limited by their potential toxicity and immunogenicity. We report here on a newly identified novel cell-penetrating sequence (LPIN; RRKRRRRRK) from the nuclear localization sequence (NLS) of human nuclear phosphatase, LPIN3. LPIN-EGFP recombinant protein was concentration- and time-dependently delivered into cells and localized to the nucleus as well as the cytoplasm. It penetrated the cell membrane by lipid raft-mediated endocytosis by binding to heparan sulfate proteoglycan. LPIN-EGFP was successfully delivered into primary mouse splenocytes in vitro and it could be delivered into various tissues including liver, kidney, and intestine in mice after intra-peritoneal injection. This research suggests that LPIN-CPP could be used in a drug delivery system to deliver therapeutic biomolecules including peptides, proteins, DNA, and RNA and without the limitations of non-human originated CPPs such as TAT-CPP.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell-Penetrating Peptides / chemistry*
  • Cell-Penetrating Peptides / genetics
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phosphatidate Phosphatase / genetics*
  • Phosphatidate Phosphatase / metabolism

Substances

  • Cell-Penetrating Peptides
  • LPIN3 protein, human
  • Phosphatidate Phosphatase