CADHERIN PEPTIDES FOR DRUG DELIVERY AND INHIBITION OF TUMOR METASTASIS/INVASION

摘要

Peptides which modulate porosity of intercellular junctions by inhibiting E-cadherin-E-cadherin interactions are provided. These peptides are derived from the bulge and groove regions of E-cadherin. For some peptides, a portion of a sequence derived from a groove region is conjugated with a portion of a sequence derived from a bulge region via a linker. By inhibiting E-cadherin-E-cadherin interactions, the transepithelial electrical resistance of cells is decreased, paracellular transport is increased, and adhesion of single cells to cell layers is inhibited. Accordingly, the present invention is useful for inhibiting tumor metastasis, and for delivery of protein drugs across biological barriers.