A irus-like particles or gene delivery vehicle provided with a ligand with affinity for a cationic amino acid transporter (hCAT1)

摘要

Described is the targeted delivery of substances to cells by 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 L-amino 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 described are methods for the design of such hCAT1 binding molecules.