Synthesis of antisense oligonucleotide-peptide conjugate targeting to GLUT-1 in HepG-2 and MCF-7 cells

A simple procedure for the preparation of oligonucleotide-peptide conjugate was developed. p-Hydroxybenzoic acid was used as a linker for the connection of the fragments of peptide and oligonucleotide. It was found that such formed linkage was stable under the conditions of conjugate synthesis. The designed conjugate targeting to GLUT-1 showed up to 50% inhibition of cell proliferation in HepG-2 and MCF-7 cells. Comparing to the results from the expressed antisense RNA in cancer cells, it was proposed that the conjugate of signal peptide mimic and antisense oligonucleotide could improve the permeability of antisense oligonucleotide through cell membrane.