4(R/S)-Guanidinylprolyl Collagen Peptides: On-Resin Synthesis, Complexation with Plasmid DNA, and the Role of Peptides in Enhancement of Transfection

Abstract

Chimeric collagen peptides containing cationic 4(R/S)-guanidinylproline are synthesized by in situ amidinylation of 4(R/S)-aminoproline residues. These peptides uniquely enhance the transfection efficiency of GFP-encoded plasmid DNA (pRmHa3-GFP) into cells through efficient DNA condensation resulting from nonspecific electrostatic interactions of cationic guanidino groups and localize in subcytoplasmic organelles.