Folate receptor-specific cell-cell adhesion by using a folate-modified peptide-based anchor

We report here a folate-modified membrane anchor for cell surface modification to induce cell adhesion to target cells. The membrane anchor region, which was consisted of cationic lysine residues and palmitoyl group-modified residues, was modified with folate through an oligoethlene glycol linker. The peptide anchor was modified on to the cell membrane by using β-cyclodextrin as a solubilizer of the peptide anchor. After modification, the peptide anchor disappeared from the cell membrane via endocytotic uptake or dissociation from the cell membrane. However, the endocytosed peptide was represented on the cell surface via recycling endosome pathway. The obtained folate-modified cells successfully adhered on to target cells which expressed folate receptor α via ligand-receptor specific interaction and adhesion continued at least 4 hours.