The present disclosure provides modified looped proteins comprising at least one looped region, wherein the at least one looped region comprises a cell penetrating peptide (CPP). In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides polynucleotides encoding the modified looped proteins and methods for their production.

The present invention pertains to: a botulinum toxin, epithelial cell growth factor, or hexapeptide fusion protein bound to skin tissues and cell-permeable peptides, or an epithelial cell growth factor mixed with skin tissues and cell-permeable peptides; and a composition comprising same. The fusion protein or the epithelial cell growth factor mixed with cell-permeable peptides has increased cell permeability compared to protein by itself, and is thus useful for improving the condition of skin, treating wrinkles, relieving muscle tension, and treating wounds.

There is provided in the present application a pharmaceutical composition comprising a peptide comprising the amino acid sequence of YEKLLDTEI (SEQ ID NO: 1) or a functional variant thereof, a pH adjusting agent, and a filler. The peptide is an active peptide for the treatment of a central nervous system injury. The present application also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a chimeric peptide comprising an active peptide and an internalization peptide, a pH adjusting agent, and a filler. The present application also provides medical use of a pharmaceutical composition comprising the active peptide or the chimeric peptide.

The present invention relates to polypeptides, compositions and methods for preventing and/or treating skin conditions including dermal aging and skin conditions associated with UV exposure.

Cell-targeted serine protease constructs are provided. Such constructs can be used in methods for targeted cell killing such as for treatment cell of proliferative diseases (e.g., cancer). In some aspects, recombinant serine proteases, such as Granzyme B polypeptides, are provided that exhibit improved stability and cell toxicity. Methods and compositions for treating lapatinib or trastuzumab-resistant cancers are also provided.

Angelman Syndrome (AS) is a genetic disorder occurring in approximately one in every 15,000 births. It is characterized by severe mental retardation, seizures, difficulty speaking and ataxia. The gene responsible for AS was discovered to be UBE3A and encodes for E6-AP, an ubiquitin ligase. A unique feature of this gene is that it undergoes maternal imprinting in a neuron-specific manner. In the majority of AS cases, there is a mutation or deletion in the maternally inherited UBE3A gene, although other cases are the result of uniparental disomy or mismethylation of the maternal gene. While most human disorders characterized by severe mental retardation involve abnormalities in brain structure, no gross anatomical changes are associated with AS. We have generated a Ube3a protein with additional sequences that should allow the secretion from cells and uptake by neighboring neuronal cells. This would confer a functional E6-AP protein into the neurons and rescue disease pathology.

The present invention addresses the problem of providing: a fusion protein or conjugated protein having excellent cell membrane permeability, containing a partial peptide derived from human, and suitable for intracellular delivery; an intracellular delivery carrier comprising such a fusion protein or conjugated protein; a partial peptide; a cell membrane permeation enhancer comprising the partial peptide; DNA; and a vector. The fusion protein or conjugated protein has a partial peptide comprising at least seven consecutive amino acid residues of an amino acid sequence encoded by a predetermined DNA, and a ligand directly or indirectly bound to the partial peptide and having the capability of binding to cell surfaces. The ligand is preferably an antibody. The intracellular delivery carrier comprises the fusion protein or conjugated protein. The cell membrane permeation enhancer comprises the partial peptide.

The present disclosure concerns peptide compounds of formula I or II and combinations thereof that can be administered orally for promoting endogenous steroid, and particularly testosterone, production:

TABLE-US-00001 (I) A-Xaa.sub.1-Xaa.sub.2-Xaa.sub.3-Xaa.sub.4-Xaa.sub.5-Xaa.sub.6-Xaa.sub.7-Xaa.sub.8-B (II) A-Xaa.sub.1-Xaa.sub.A-Xaa.sub.B-Xaa.sub.2-Xaa.sub.3-Xaa.sub.4-Xaa.sub.5-Xaa.sub.6-Xaa.sub.7-Xaa.sub.C- Xaa.sub.D-Xaa.sub.E-Xaa.sub.8-B

The present invention addresses the issue of providing a norovirus component vaccine for subcutaneous, intradermal, percutaneous, or intramuscular administration which vaccine can readily immunize the target cells, an associated product of a molecular needle serving as an active ingredient of the vaccine, and a production method for the associated product. The invention provides a norovirus component vaccine containing, as an active ingredient, an associated product including a hexamer formed through bonding of two molecules of a trimer of a molecular needle represented by the following formula (1). W-L.sub.1-X.sub.n—Y (1) [wherein W represents an amino acid sequence of P domain of the capsid protein of norovirus as an immunogen; L.sub.1 represents a first linker sequence having 0 to 100 amino acids; X represents an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1; Y represents an amino acid sequence of a cell introduction domain; n is an integer of 1 to 3].

A novel cytokine-derived cell penetrating peptide and use thereof are provided. The cell penetrating peptide has the ability to effectively deliver a biologically active substance into phagocytes, particularly macrophages, both in vitro and in vivo. The cell penetrating peptide can deliver a biologically active substance into macrophages with high efficiency compared to TAT peptide and dNP2 peptide that are commercially available as cell penetrating peptides.