Selective targeting agents for mitochondria

US7718603B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education · US

Inventors

• Peter Wipf · Pittsburgh, US
• Jingbo Xiao · Rockville, US
• Mitchell P. Fink · Pittsburgh, US
• Valerian Kagan · Pittsburgh, US
• Yulia Y. Tyurina · Pittsburgh, US
• Anthony J. Kanai · Pittsburgh, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 1, 2006
• Grant date: May 18, 2010
• Expiry date: Jun 26, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07K7/06
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention provides a composition and related methods for delivering cargo to a mitochondria which includes (a) a membrane active peptidyl fragment having a high affinity with the mitochondria and (b) cargo. The cargo may be selected from a wide variety of desired cargos which are to be delivered to the mitochondria for a specific purpose. Compositions and methods are disclosed for treating an illness that is caused or associated with cellular damage or dysfunction which is caused by excessive mitochondrial production of reaction oxygen species (ROS). Compositions which act as mitochondria-selective targeting agents using the structural signaling of the β-turn recognizable by cells as mitochondria) targeting sequences are discussed. Mitochondria and cell death by way of apoptosis is inhibited as a result of the ROS-scavenging activity, thereby increasing the survival rate of the patient. In a preferred embodiment, the compositions and methods may be administered therapeutically in the field to patients with profound hemorrhagic shock so that survival could be prolonged until it is feasible to obtain surgical control of the bleeding vessels. In further preferred embodimen…