Radiometal-Labeled Peptide−PNA Conjugates for Targeting bcl-2 Expression: Preparation, Characterization, and in Vitro mRNA Binding
- Michael R. Lewis
- ,
- Fang Jia
- ,
- Fabio Gallazzi
- ,
- Yi Wang
- ,
- Jiuli Zhang
- ,
- Nalini Shenoy
- ,
- Susan Z. Lever
- , and
- Mark Hannink
Abstract

A new antisense peptide−peptide nucleic acid (peptide−PNA) conjugate, designed for targeting bcl-2 expression, has been radiolabeled, characterized, and evaluated for bcl-2 mRNA binding in a cell-free system. A PNA complementary to the first six codons of the bcl-2 gene was synthesized by standard solid-phase Fmoc chemistry and conjugated to a new derivative of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N‘,N‘ ‘,N‘ ‘‘-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) that allows macrocyclic radiometal chelates to be incorporated into any sequence position of a peptide−PNA conjugate. The DOTA−PNA conjugate was then coupled to a membrane-permeating transduction peptide, PTD-4, designed for intracellular delivery of the radiolabeled PNA. The conjugate was characterized by HPLC and ESI-MS and labeled with 111In and 90Y to high specific activities (>1000 Ci/mmol) with high radiochemical purity. Northern blot analysis showed that 90Y-PTD-4−K(DOTA)−anti-bcl-2-PNA bound specifically to as little as 50 fmol of bcl-2 mRNA, a result equivalent to that obtained with the analogous 32P-labeled DNA antisense oligonucleotide. Thus, the mRNA targeting properties of 111In- and 90Y-PTD-4−K(DOTA)−anti-bcl-2-PNA demonstrate potential for diagnostic imaging and targeted radiotherapy applications in bcl-2-positive cancers.
*
To whom correspondence should be addressed: Michael R. Lewis, Ph.D., Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, 379 E. Campus Drive, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211. Phone: (573) 814-6000, ext. 3703. FAX: (573) 814−6551. E-mail: LewisMic@ missouri.edu.
†
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery.
‡
Department of Radiology.
§
Department of Chemistry.
#
University of Missouri Research Reactor.
‖
Department of Biochemistry.
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