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Cell Penetrating Peptides: How Do They Do It?

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Abstract

Cell penetrating peptides consist of short sequences of amino acids containing a large net positive charge that are able to penetrate almost any cell, carrying with them relatively large cargoes such as proteins, oligonucleotides, and drugs. During the 10 years since their discovery, the question of how they manage to translocate across the membrane has remained unanswered. The main discussion has been centered on whether they follow an energy-independent or an energy-dependent pathway. Recently, we have discovered the possibility of an energy-independent pathway that challenges fundamental concepts associated with protein-membrane interactions (Herce and Garcia, PNAS, 104: 20805 (2007) [1]). It involves the translocation of charged residues across the hydrophobic core of the membrane and the passive diffusion of these highly charged peptides across the membrane through the formation of aqueous toroidal pores. The aim of this review is to discuss the details of the mechanism and interpret some experimental results consistent with this view.

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  1. Department of Physics and Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY, 12180, USA

    Henry D. Herce & Angel E. Garcia

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  1. Henry D. Herce
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Correspondence to Henry D. Herce.

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Herce, H.D., Garcia, A.E. Cell Penetrating Peptides: How Do They Do It?. J Biol Phys 33, 345–356 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10867-008-9074-3

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