Fluorescent Peptides Penetrate Nuclei, Bind DNA in Human Cells
Penetration of short fluorescence-labeled peptides into the nucleus in HeLa cells and in vitro specific interaction of the peptides with deoxyribooligonucleotides and DNA.
Background
Targeting the cell nucleus is a significant challenge in drug delivery, crucial for therapies aimed at genetic diseases or gene expression modulation. Many therapeutic compounds struggle to efficiently cross the nuclear membrane, limiting their therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, understanding how small molecules, particularly peptides, interact directly with DNA is fundamental to developing novel gene-regulating agents. This study specifically addresses how short, synthetic peptides can efficiently enter the nucleus of human cells and directly bind to DNA, elucidating a potential mechanism for their biological activity and therapeutic potential.