Synthesis and characterization of Her2-NLP peptide conjugates targeting circulating breast cancer cells: cellular uptake and localization by fluorescent microscopic imaging

J Fluoresc. 2015 Jan;25(1):113-7. doi: 10.1007/s10895-014-1486-9. Epub 2015 Jan 27.

Abstract

To synthesize a fluorescent Her2-NLP peptide conjugate consisting of Her2/neu targeting peptide and nuclear localization sequence peptide (NLP) and assess its cellular uptake and intracellular localization for radionuclide cancer therapy targeting Her2/neu-positive circulating breast cancer cells (CBCC). Fluorescent Cy5.5 Her2-NLP peptide conjugate was synthesized by coupling a bivalent peptide sequence, which consisted of a Her2-binding peptide (NH2-GSGKCCYSL) and an NLP peptide (CGYGPKKKRKVGG) linked by a polyethylene glycol (PEG) chain with 6 repeating units, with an activated Cy5.5 ester. The conjugate was separated and purified by HPLC and then characterized by Maldi-MS. The intracellular localization of fluorescent Cy5.5 Her2-NLP peptide conjugate was assessed by fluorescent microscopic imaging using a confocal microscope after incubation of Cy5.5-Her2-NLP with Her2/neu positive breast cancer cells and Her2/neu negative control breast cancer cells, respectively. Fluorescent signals were detected in cytoplasm of Her2/neu positive breast cancer cells (SKBR-3 and BT474 cell lines), but not or little in cytoplasm of Her2/neu negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231), after incubation of the breast cancer cells with Cy5.5-Her2-NLP conjugates in vitro. No fluorescent signals were detected within the nuclei of Her2/neu positive SKBR-3 and BT474 breast cancer cells, neither Her2/neu negative MDA-MB-231 cells, incubated with the Cy5.5-Her2-NLP peptide conjugates, suggesting poor nuclear localization of the Cy5.5-Her2-NLP conjugates localized within the cytoplasm after their cellular uptake and internalization by the Her2/neu positive breast cancer cells. Her2-binding peptide (KCCYSL) is a promising agent for radionuclide therapy of Her2/neu positive breast cancer using a β(-) or α emitting radionuclide, but poor nuclear localization of the Her2-NLP peptide conjugates may limit its use for eradication of Her2/neu-positive CBCC using I-125 or other Auger electron emitting radionuclide.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Carbocyanines / chemistry
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Localization Signals / chemistry
  • Nuclear Localization Signals / metabolism*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / chemical synthesis
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / chemistry*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism*

Substances

  • CY5.5 cyanine dye
  • Carbocyanines
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Ligands
  • Nuclear Localization Signals
  • Receptor, ErbB-2