Development of Improved Cell-Permeable (iCP) Parkin Recombinant Protein as a Protein-Based Anti-Neurodegenerative Agent for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease-Associated Phenotypes by Utilizing BBB-Penetrating Protein Delivery System MITT, Enabled by Advanced Macromolecule Transduction Domain (aMTD)

Abstract

Macromolecule intracellular transduction technology based on improved cell-permeable Parkin recombinant protein (iCP-Parkin) has been developed as a protein-based anti-neurodegenerative agent for efficient BBB-penetration to effectively deliver the recombinant protein into the brain. Parkin protein, a dopaminergic neuronal cell death inhibitor, has been fused with a newly developed advanced macromolecule transduction domain (aMTD) and solubilization domain (SD) to increase the solubility/yield and cell-/tissue-permeability of the recombinant protein. In addition, our newly developed aMTD/SD-fused recombinant iCP-Parkin protein has shown BBB-permeability. Both in vitro and in vivo, our iCP-Parkin recombinant protein improved motor skills, a typical phenotype of Parkinson's disease, by increasing dopamine level in the brain by suppressing apoptosis of dopaminergic neuron cells. In conclusion, iCP-Parkin could be applicable in clinical studies as a protein-based anti-neurodegenerative agent to treat Parkinson's disease by protecting dopaminergic neuron cells and regulating the secretion of dopamine.

What we claimed are: 
     
         1 . A method for development of the new hydrophobic cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), namely advanced macromolecule transduction domains (aMTDs) 
     
     
         2 . A method for analysis with previously developed hydrophobic cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), namely advanced macromolecule transduction domains (aMTDs) 
     
     
         3 . A method for preparation of the Parkin recombinant proteins fused to newly invented hydrophobic cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), namely advanced macromolecule transduction