TARGETED DELIVERY THROUGH A CATIONIC AMINO ACID TRANSPORTER

摘要

The invention relates to the targeted delivery of substances to cells. The invention provides a virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle provided with a ligand capable of binding to a human amino acid transporter. Provided are for example ligands that can bind to the human transporter of cationic Lamino acids (hCAT1). Such hCAT1 binding molecules find applications in the design of vector systems for entry into human or primate cells. Preferred are retroviral envelope molecules, which - when incorporated in a virus particle can infect hCAT1 positive cells at high frequencies. Also within the scope of the invention are methods for the design of such hCAT1 binding molecules.