Conjugation of cell-penetrating peptides leads to identification of anti-HIV peptides from matrix proteins
- Bioorg Med Chem. 2012 Feb 15;20(4):1468-74. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2011.12.055.
- 1. Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan.
Compounds which inhibit the HIV-1 replication cycle have been found amongst fragment Peptides derived from an HIV-1 matrix (MA) protein. Overlapping peptide libraries covering the whole sequence of MA were designed and constructed with the addition of an octa-arginyl group to increase their cell membrane permeability. Imaging experiments with Fluorescent-labeled Peptides demonstrated these Peptides with an octa-arginyl group can penetrate cell membranes. The fusion of an octa-arginyl group was proven to be an efficient way to find active Peptides in cells such as HIV-inhibitory Peptides.