TROJAN PEPTIDES - THE PENETRATIN SYSTEM FOR INTRACELLULAR DELIVERY

Internalization of exogenous macromolecules by live cells provides a p owerful approach for studying cellular functions. Understanding the me chanism of transfer from the extracellular milieu to the cytoplasm and nucleus could also contribute to the development of new therapeutic a pproaches. This article summarizes the unexpected properties of penetr atins, a class of peptides with translocating properties and capable o f carrying hydrophilic compounds across the plasma membrane. This uniq ue system allows direct targeting of oligopeptides and oligonucleotide s to the cytoplasm and nucleus, is non-cell-type specific and highly e fficient, and therefore has several applications of potential cell-bio logy and clinical interest.