Delivery of Inorganic Polyphosphate into Cells Using Amphipathic Oligocarbonate Transporters

Journal Article · Wed Sep 26 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · ACS Central Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acscentsci.8b00470· OSTI ID:1474016

Fernandes-Cunha, Gabriella M. ; McKinlay, Colin J.; Vargas, Jessica R.; Jessen, Henning J.  ^[1]; Waymouth, Robert M. ; Wender, Paul A.

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1. Institute of Organic Chemistry, Albert-Ludwigs University, Freiburg Albertstr. 21, 79104 Freiburg, Germany

Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) is an oftenoverlooked biopolymer of phosphate residues present in living cells. PolyP is associated with many essential biological roles. Despite interest in polyP’s function, most studies have been limited to extracellular or isolated protein experiments, as polyanionic polyP does not traverse the nonpolar membrane of cells. To address this problem, we developed a robust, readily employed method for polyP delivery using guanidinium- rich oligocarbonate transporters that electrostatically complex polyPs of multiple lengths, forming discrete nanoparticles that are resistant to phosphatase degradation and that readily enter multiple cell types. Fluorescently labeled polyPs have been monitored over time for subcellular localization and release from the transporter, with control over release rates achieved by modulating the transporter identity and the charge ratio of the electrostatic complexes. This general approach to polyP delivery enables the study of intracellular polyP signaling in a variety of applications.

• Research Organization: Leland Stanford Junior Univ., Palo Alto, CA (United States); Stanford Univ., CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0018168
• OSTI ID: 1474016
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1483936; OSTI ID: 1508740
• Journal Information: ACS Central Science, Journal Name: ACS Central Science Vol. 4 Journal Issue: 10; ISSN 2374-7943
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY