Cationic amphipathic peptides and the application thereof in gene transfer vectors

摘要

Said peptides comprise residues of basic aliphatic and aromatic amino acids on both ends of the peptide and, preferably, an aromatic amino acid residue in position 3 of the peptide sequence. These peptides have simultaneously the capacity of binding a polynucleotide and disrupting biological membranes. Said peptides are useful in the construction of non-viral gene transfer vectors with improved gene material condensing capacity and/or reduced cytotoxicity and/or improved genetic material transfer efficiency. The invention can be used in gene transfer for research and therapeutic purposes.