Postgraduate Thesis: Effective DNA delivery mediated by pH responsive peptides

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TitleEffective DNA delivery mediated by pH responsive peptides
AuthorsChan, Fu-lun.
陳賦麟.
Issue Date2012
PublisherThe University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong)
AbstractNon-viral vectors have been used to deliver therapeutic genes to treat different diseases. There are a variety of non-viral vectors such as liposomes, cationic polymers and peptides. Among all, pH responsive peptides showed excellent DNA transfection efficiency in many types of cell. These peptides are capable of changing their structural conformation as pH decreases, adopting a disordered structure which can destabilize endosomal membrane and therefore enhancing the release of DNA from endosomes into cytosol. Traditional pH responsive histidine-rich peptides showed good DNA transfection efficiency and low toxicity to the cells when compared with other non-viral vectors. However, their low pKa value restricted these peptides to be protonated only at late endosomal stage, in which DNA is extremely susceptible to endosomal degradation. This hindered the DNA to be released to the cytosol efficiently and therefore reduced DNA transfection efficiency. In response to this, it is of great interest to probe into the insertion of either 2,3-diaminopropionic acid (Dap) or methylated-2,3-diaminopropionic acid Dap(Me) to the peptide as alternative pH sensitive components. The pKa values for both Dap and Dap(Me) peptides are higher than that of histidine. It is anticipated that the higher pKa value, the protonation of peptide could be happened at an earlier stage of endosomal maturation. Such protonation of peptide destabilizes the endosome membrane rapidly, causing the release of DNA to the cytosol effectively and hence improving DNA transfection efficiency. In this experiment, LADap(Me)4-L1 peptide was the optimal candidate within the series. It showed good DNA transfection efficiency and cell viability in A549 cells among all Dap and Dap(Me) peptides.
DegreeMaster of Medical Sciences
SubjectPeptides.
Gene targeting.
Genetic vectors.
Gene therapy.
Dept/ProgramPharmacology and Pharmacy
DC Field
Value
dc.contributor.authorChan, Fu-lun.
dc.contributor.author陳賦麟.
dc.date.hkucongregation2012
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstractNon-viral vectors have been used to deliver therapeutic genes to treat different diseases. There are a variety of non-viral vectors such as liposomes, cationic polymers and peptides. Among all, pH responsive peptides showed excellent DNA transfection efficiency in many types of cell. These peptides are capable of changing their structural conformation as pH decreases, adopting a disordered structure which can destabilize endosomal membrane and therefore enhancing the release of DNA from endosomes into cytosol. Traditional pH responsive histidine-rich peptides showed good DNA transfection efficiency and low toxicity to the cells when compared with other non-viral vectors. However, their low pKa value restricted these peptides to be protonated only at late endosomal stage, in which DNA is extremely susceptible to endosomal degradation. This hindered the DNA to be released to the cytosol efficiently and therefore reduced DNA transfection efficiency. In response to this, it is of great interest to probe into the insertion of either 2,3-diaminopropionic acid (Dap) or methylated-2,3-diaminopropionic acid Dap(Me) to the peptide as alternative pH sensitive components. The pKa values for both Dap and Dap(Me) peptides are higher than that of histidine. It is anticipated that the higher pKa value, the protonation of peptide could be happened at an earlier stage of endosomal maturation. Such protonation of peptide destabilizes the endosome membrane rapidly, causing the release of DNA to the cytosol effectively and hence improving DNA transfection efficiency. In this experiment, LADap(Me)4-L1 peptide was the optimal candidate within the series. It showed good DNA transfection efficiency and cell viability in A549 cells among all Dap and Dap(Me) peptides.
dc.description.naturepublished_or_final_version
dc.description.thesisdisciplinePharmacology and Pharmacy
dc.description.thesislevelmaster's
dc.description.thesisnameMaster of Medical Sciences
dc.identifier.hkulb4833333
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherThe University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong)
dc.relation.ispartofHKU Theses Online (HKUTO)
dc.rightsThe author retains all proprietary rights, (such as patent rights) and the right to use in future works.
dc.rightsCreative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License
dc.source.urihttp://hub.hku.hk/bib/B48333335
dc.subject.lcshPeptides.
dc.subject.lcshGene targeting.
dc.subject.lcshGenetic vectors.
dc.subject.lcshGene therapy.
dc.titleEffective DNA delivery mediated by pH responsive peptides
dc.typePG_Thesis