[Cationic oligopeptides modified with lipophilic fragments: use for DNA delivery to cells]

Cationic oligopeptides, including the amphipathic alpha-helical peptides, are applied to the targeted delivery of DNA to eukaryotic cells due to their DNA-compacting properties and the ability to destabilize the cell lipid bilayer in some cases. We synthesized the peptides differing in the number and location of residues of decanoic acid covalently attached to Lys residues in order to combine the DNA-binding and the membrane activities in a single molecule. We chose peptide structures that assisted in the formation of alpha-helices. The DNA-binding ability of the peptides and the membrane activity of their complexes with DNA were shown to depend on the structure. The study of erythrocyte hemolysis by complexes with DNA of the pCMV LacZ plasmid and the peculiarities of transfection of these complexes revealed a correlation between the hemolytic activity and the expression level of the lacZ gene in the cells.