Control of intracellular delivery of oligonucleotides by signal peptides and genetic expression in human cells.

Abstract

In the present study, membrane permeability and intracellular localization of oligonucleotide (ODN) conjugated with naturally occurring functional peptides or designed peptide were investigated, as well as antisense properties of them to inhibit of telomerase activities. All conjugate antisense ODNs showed higher membrane permeability and nuclease resistance than natural ODN. Intracellular localization of ODN could be precisely controlled by conjugation with functional peptides. Conjugate antisense ODNs indicated thousand fold higher inhibitory effects than natural ODN in cellular extract and 95% suppression in human leukemia cells.