Cell-penetrating peptides
A vector that includes a cell-penetrating peptide linked to a therapeutic agent. The therapeutic agent can be a cytotoxic agent, an anti-viral agent, an anti-bacterial agent, or an anti-parasitic agent.
1. A vector comprising a penetrating peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence VKKKKIKAEIKI (SEQ ID NO:2) coupled to a therapeutic agent.
2. The vector of claim 1 , wherein the vector is a chimeric peptide construct.
3. The vector of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of a cytotoxic agent, an anti-viral agent, an anti-bacterial agent, and an anti-parasitic agent.
4. The vector of claim 3 , wherein the cytotoxic agent is a pro-apoptotic peptide.
5. The vector of claim 4 , wherein the penetrating peptide is fused to the pro-apoptotic peptide, and the vector is 23 to 70 amino acids in length.
6. The vector of claim 4 , wherein the penetrating peptide is fused to the pro-apoptotic peptide at the C-terminus of the penetrating peptide.