Cell-Penetrating Peptides Predicted From CASC3, AKIP1, and AHRR Proteins.

Peptides can be used as research tools and for diagnostic or therapeutic applications. Peptides, alongside small molecules and antibodies, are used and are gaining further interest as protein-protein interaction (PPI) modulators. Peptides have high target specificity and high affinity, but, unlike small molecule modulators, they are not able to cross the cell membranes to reach their intracellular targets.

Enhancement of siRNA transfection by the optimization of fatty acid length and histidine content in the CPP.

Extracellular synthetic nucleic acids, such as siRNAs, are unable to reach their intended targets efficiently. Therefore, delivery methods such as cell-penetrating peptides (CPP), which increase their transport, could enhance the potency of siRNA as therapeutic agents. The CPP NickFect55 (NF55) is an efficient peptide-based delivery vector, which has been previously used to deliver plasmid DNA into cells in vivo.