The Cytotoxicity of RNase-Derived Peptides

Bacterial ribonuclease binase exhibits a cytotoxic effect on tumor cells possessing certain oncogenes. The aim of this study was to identify the structural parts of the binase molecule that exert cytotoxicity. Out of five designed peptides, the peptides representing the binase regions 21–50 and 74–94 have the highest cytotoxic potential toward human cervical HeLa and breast BT-20 and MCF-7 cancer cells. The peptides B21–50 and B74–94 were not able to enter human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells, unlike BT-20 cells, explaining their failure to inhibit A549 cell proliferation. The peptide B74–94 shares similarities with epidermal growth factor (EGF), suggesting the peptide’s specificity for EGF receptor overexpressed in BT-20 cells. Thus, the binase-derived peptides have the potential of being further developed as tumor-targeting peptides.