Synthetic peptides as carriers for cellular import of drugs

We describe the solid phase synthesis of anamphipathic peptide C-terminated by a cysteamide groupwhich allows further addition after removal from theresin and cleavage of the side-chain protectinggroups. The peptide is shown to be rapidlyinternalized by cells with a nuclear localization ofthe peptide. When the peptide is linked to anoligonucleotide, the conjugate is also internalizedwith a final localization that is mainly cytoplasmic.