PURPOSE:To assess the effect of "N-Acetylation and C-Amidation" on the cellular uptake, cytotoxicity and performance of amphiphilic cell penetrating peptides (CPP) loaded with methotrexate (MTX). METHODS:Several CPPs were synthesized by solid phase peptide synthesis method. Some of these sequences were modified with pyroglutamic acid at N-terminus and benzylamine or memantine at C-terminus. The resultant nanomaterials were prepared due to the physical linkage between CPPs and MTX. The internalization and cytotoxicity of both CPP-MTX bioconjugates and unmodified CPPs against MCF-7 human breast adenocarcinoma cells was evaluated. RESULTS:N-l and C-terminal modification did not alter the toxicity of CPPs. Physical linkage of CPPs with MTX resulted in a lower drug loading efficiency in comparison with chemically conjugated CPP-MTX bio-conjugates. Both nano-complexes increase the toxic effect of MTX on MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, N- and C-terminal modification may cause a tangible reduction in cellular uptake of CPPs. CONCLUSION:In conclusion, it was shown that cytotoxicity of modified peptides which were physically linked with MTX, considerably higher than both physically loaded unmodified peptides and chemically conjugated peptides with MTX. Also, cell internalization was reduced after peptide end-protection. These findings confirmed the effectiveness of N- and C-terminal modifications on cell viability and CPPs internalization.

The development of cell therapy for repairing damaged or diseased skeletal muscle has been hindered by the inability to significantly expand immature, transplantable myogenic stem cells (MuSCs) in culture. To overcome this limitation, a deeper understanding of the mechanisms regulating the transition between activated, proliferating MuSCs and differentiation-primed, poorly engrafting progenitors is needed. Here, we show that methyltransferase Setd7 facilitates such transition by regulating the nuclear accumulation of β-catenin in proliferating MuSCs. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of Setd7 promotes in vitro expansion of MuSCs and increases the yield of primary myogenic cell cultures. Upon transplantation, both mouse and human MuSCs expanded with a Setd7 small-molecule inhibitor are better able to repopulate the satellite cell niche, and treated mouse MuSCs show enhanced therapeutic potential in preclinical models of muscular dystrophy. Thus, Setd7 inhibition may help bypass a key obstacle in the translation of cell therapy for muscle disease.