(R-X-R) -Motif Peptides Containing Conformationally Constrained Cyclohexane-Derived Spacers: Effect on Cellular Uptake.

Arginine-rich peptides having the (R-X-R) motif are among the most effective cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs). Herein we report a several-fold increase in the efficacy of such CPPs if the linear flexible spacer (-X-) in the (R-X-R) motif is replaced by constrained cyclic 1,4-substituted-cyclohexane-derived spacers. Internalization of these oligomers in mammalian cell lines was found to be an energy-dependent process. Incorporation of these constrained, non-proteinogenic amino acid spacers in the CPPs is shown to enhance their proteolytic stability.