Dipicolylamine/metal complexes that promotes direct cell-membrane penetration of octaarginine.

Marked promotion of membrane permeation of a cell-penetrating peptide, octaarginine (R8), was attained by attachment to a single 2,2'-dipicolylamine moiety (DPA-R8) that forms 1:1 complexes with metal ions. Studies using giant unilamellar vesicles demonstrated that DPA targets phospholipids and enhances R8 binding to the membranes in the presence of metal ions. While DPA/Zn(II) complex has been most frequently employed for chelate formation with phosphates, Ni(II) had the most prominent effect on the membrane binding and penetration of DPA-R8. Facile cytosolic distribution of DPA-R8 was also attained in a few minutes in the presence of Ni(II). Analysis of the cellular uptake methods of DPA-R8/Ni(II) suggested the involvement of direct permeation through cell membrane without the use of endocytosis. The applicability of this system to the intracellular delivery of bioactive compounds was exemplified using a peptidomimetic farnesyltransferase inhibitor, FTI277.