ISOLATED AMPHIPHILIC PEPTIDES DERIVED FROM THE CYTOPLASMIC TAIL OF VIRAL ENVELOPE PROTEINS

摘要

An isolated peptide comprising an amino acid sequence derived from a viralenvelope protein, wherein at least a portion of the amino acid sequence islocated within the cytoplasmic tail or membrane-spanning region of a viralenvelope protein. Such peptides are amphiphilic in nature, provide for thedestabilization of membranes, and facilitate the entry of viral particles intocells and the efficient formation of viral particles. The peptides may, inanother embodiment, be attached to the viral membrane, along with a targetingpolypeptide, as part of an artificial viral envelope protein.