Lipid conjugates enhance endosomal release of antisense oligonucleotides into cells

S Wang, N Allen, TP Prakash, X Liang… - nucleic acid …, 2019 - liebertpub.com
S Wang, N Allen, TP Prakash, X Liang, ST Crooke
nucleic acid therapeutics, 2019liebertpub.com
Antisense oligonucleotides modified with phosphorothioate linkages (PS-ASOs) can enter
cells via endocytic pathways and must escape from membraned organelles to reach target
RNAs. We recently found that membrane destabilization induced by different lipid species
contributes to PS-ASO release from late endosomes (LEs). In this study, we characterized
intracellular uptake, trafficking, and activities of PS-ASOs conjugated with different lipid
species. We found that palmitic acid-, tocopherol-, and cholesterol-conjugated PS-ASOs …
Antisense oligonucleotides modified with phosphorothioate linkages (PS-ASOs) can enter cells via endocytic pathways and must escape from membraned organelles to reach target RNAs. We recently found that membrane destabilization induced by different lipid species contributes to PS-ASO release from late endosomes (LEs). In this study, we characterized intracellular uptake, trafficking, and activities of PS-ASOs conjugated with different lipid species. We found that palmitic acid-, tocopherol-, and cholesterol-conjugated PS-ASOs have increased protein binding and enhanced intracellular uptake compared to unconjugated PS-ASOs. Similar to the parental PS-ASO, the lipid-conjugated PS-ASOs traffic from early to LEs without incorporation into lipid droplets. Unlike parental PS-ASOs, the lipid-conjugated PS-ASOs tend to remain associated with plasma or endosomal membranes, and this appears to influence their release from endosomes. The lipid-conjugated PS-ASOs were released more rapidly than parental PS-ASO. These results suggest that lipid conjugation enhances the interactions of PS-ASOs with proteins or membranes, in turn facilitating intracellular trafficking and endosomal release.
Mary Ann Liebert