Journal of Southern Medical University ›› 2006, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (10): 1394-.

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Construction and functional study of a cell penetrating peptide-based expression vector for targeted delivery of proteins into the cell nuclei

LI Hai-yu, GUO Ai-hua, LIU Zhi-feng, LIU Yu, LIU Jing-hua, DENG Peng, LI Zhi-jie, LIU Ya-wei, JIANG Yong Department of Pathophysiology and Key Laboratory of Functional Proteomics of Guangdong Province, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China   

  1. 南方医科大学病理生理教研室和广东省功能蛋白质组学重点实验室; 南方医科大学病理生理教研室和广东省功能蛋白质组学重点实验室 广东广州510515; 广东广州510515;
  • Online:2006-10-20 Published:2006-10-20

Abstract: Objective To construct an cell penetrating peptide-based expression vector capable of targeted delivery of proteins into the cell nuclei and study its function of protein transduction. Methods The fusion protein expression vector pET14b-HC(L)NE (pET14-b-His-CPP-Linker-NLS-EGFP) incorporating cell penetrating peptide (CPP), nuclear localization signal(NLS), linker and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) was constructed based on His-tagged pET14b-HE (pET14b-His-EGFP) by site-directed mutagenesis PCR method. After identification by enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing, the recombinant plasmid was transformed into BL21(DE3) strain. The HC(L)NE fusion protein was expressed following IPTG induction and purified with Ni2+-NTA affinity chromatography. After dialysis and filtration, the HC(L)NE fusion protein was added into cultured eukaryotic cells. The protein transduction in the living cells was observed under fluorescence microscope and analyzed by Western blotting. Results Enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing confirmed successful construction of the pET14b-HC(L)NE vector, and the fusion protein efficiently expressed in E.coli. Protein transduction experiments in eukaryotic cells revealed that the fusion protein could rapidly penetrate the cell membrane and reach the cell nucleus, and this internalization was time- and concentration-dependent. Conclusion The cell penetrating peptide-based expression vector for targeted protein delivery to the cell nucleus has been successfully constructed, and a transport system that can delivery exogenous proteins or polypeptides into the cytoplasm and cell nucleus is established, which provides an economical and efficient means for functional study of the proteins and polypeptide in cells and targeted drug delivery. 

CLC Number: