METHOD FOR ENHANCING TRANSMEMBRANE TRANSPORT OF EXOGENOUS MOLECULES

摘要

A method is provided for enhancing transmembrane transport of exogenous molecules. The method comprises contacting a membrane of a living cell with a complex formed between said molecules and ligands selected from biotin, biotin analogs and other biotin receptor-binding ligands, and/or folic acid, folate analogs and other folate receptor-binding ligands to initiate receptor mediated transmembrane transport of the ligand complex. The method is used for the efficient delivery of peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and other compounds capable of modifying cell function into plant, animal, yeast, and bacterial cells.