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Updated: Jan 20, 2026

Construction of Cyclic Cell-Penetrating Peptides for Enhanced Penetration of Biological Barriers
Published on: September 19, 2022
Mitochondria Penetrating Peptide-Conjugated TAMRA for Live-Cell Long-Term Tracking
Tinghan Zhao1, Xinglei Liu1, Sweety Singh1
1Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, College of Science and Liberal Arts , New Jersey Institute of Technology , 323 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard , Newark , New Jersey 07102 , United States.
Abstract:
Mitochondria are essential targets for treatment of diseases with mitochondrial disorders such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Mitochondria penetrating peptides (MPPs) are composed of cationic and hydrophobic amino acids that can target and permeate the mitochondrial membrane. Herein, a novel d-argine-phenylalanine-d-argine-phenylalanine-d-argine-phenylalanine-NH2 (rFrFrF) was tagged with a rhodamine-based fluorescent chromophore (TAMRA). This probe (TAMRA-rFrFrF) exhibited advantageous properties for long-term mitochondria tracking as demonstrated by fluorescence microscopy. Cell viability assays and oxygen consumption rates indicate low cytotoxicity and high biocompatibility of the new contrast agent. Colocalization studies suggest that TAMRA-rFrFrF is a promising candidate for continuous mitochondrial tracking for up to 3 days.
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