GETTING HYDROPHILIC COMPOUNDS INTO CELLS - LESSONS FROM HOMEOPEPTIDES- COMMENTARY

The homeodomain of Antennapedia, a Drosophila transcription factor, tr anslocates across biological membranes. Within this 60-amino-acid poly peptide, 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 t his phenomenon and discusses its potential applications in cell biolog y.