Materials Research Science and Engineering Center

Isaac Mukooza

“Nucleopeptide Assemblies for Interacting with Cell Nuclei to Selectively Cause Cancer Cell Death”

Isaac Mukooza, Huaimin Wang, Bing Xu
Hampton University / Chemistry
Hosted by Xu's Lab

Abstract

Many cancer treatments that exist today are highly effective in killing cancer cells. However, many of them indiscriminately kill cells in the body, eliminating both cancer cells and normal cells, or are less effective because of drug resistance. The objective of this project is to design peptide sequences that can self-assemble in cancer cells and inhibit function in the cell nucleus, inducing cell death.

In the peptide sequence NapFFk(GR)py, the phosphate group attached to this molecule is an hydrophilic group allowing it to dissolve in water. Exposure to the enzyme ALP removes this phosphate group, lowers the hydrophilicity of the peptide, and increases its ability to self-assemble into nanofibers. These nanofibers block cellular communication pathways in the nucleus, which causes cell apoptosis. Due to the specificity in the function of these nanostructures, it will selectively kill cancer cells and leave normal cells unharmed. Data collected from precursors and gelator images on the TEM, rheology tests and CD tests confirm the self-assembling ability of the peptide sequence NapFFk(GR) py. Cell toxicity tests confirm the selective ability of the nanostructures to induce cell death.

Support

MRSEC REU