HMGN2 peptides and related molecules that selectively home to tumor blood vessels and tumor cells
The present invention provides a conjugate which contains a therapeutic moiety linked to a homing molecule that selectively homes to tumor blood vessels and tumor cells and that specifically binds the receptor bound by peptide KDEPQRRSARLSAKPAPPKPEPKPKKAPAKK (SEQ ID NO: 9). Methods of directing a conjugate of the invention to tumor blood vessels and tumor cells and of using a conjugate to treat cancer also are provided.
1. An isolated homing peptide comprising the amino acid sequence KDEPQRRSARLSAKPAPPKPEPKPKKAPAKK (SEQ ID NO: 9) said peptide having a length of less than 70 residues, wherein said peptide specifically binds nucleolin expressed on the surface of a tumor cell.
2. The isolated peptide of claim 1 , which has a length of less than 60 residues.
3. The isolated peptide of claim 1 , which has a length of less than 50 residues.
4. The isolated peptide of claim 1 , which has a length of less than 45 residues.
5. The isolated peptide of claim 1 , which has a length of less than 40 residues.
6. The isolated peptide of claim 1 , which has a length of less than 35 residues.
7. An isolated homing peptide that selectively homes to tumor blood vessels or tumor cells, comprising the amino acid sequence KDEPQRRSARLSAKPAPPKPEPKPKKAPAKK (SEQ ID NO: 9), said peptide having a length of less than 70 residues.
8. The isolated homing peptide of claim 7 , which has a length of less than 60 residues.
9. The isolated homing peptide of claim 7 , which has a length of less than 50 residues.
10. The isolated homing peptide of claim 7 , which has a length of less than 45 residues.
11. The isolated homing peptide of claim 7 , which has a length of less than 40 residues.
12. The isolated homing peptide of claim 7 , which has a length of less than 35 residues.
13. An isolated peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence KDEPQRRSARLSAKPAPPKPEPKPKKAPAKK (SEQ ID NO: 9).
14. A chimeric polypeptide comprising a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence KDEPQRRSARLSAKPAPPKPEPKPKKAPAKK (SEQ ID NO: 9) fused to a heterologous polypeptide, wherein said chimeric polypeptide specifically binds nucleolin.
15. A chimeric polypeptide comprising a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence KDEPQRRSARLSAKPAPPKPEPKPKKAPAKK (SEQ ID NO: 9) fused to a heterologous polypeptide, wherein said chimeric polypeptide selectively homes to tumor blood vessels or tumor cells.