Enhances the transdcution efficiency of Tat-catalase protein attenuate neuronal cell damage

Though protein transduction domains (PTDs) are well known for the delivery of exogenous therapeutic proteins into cells, the low efficiency of transduction is a serious obstacle to protein transduction by PTD. Catalase (CAT) is one of the major antioxidant enzymes which cells counteract the deleterious effects of Reactive oxygen species (ROS). Among the various materials tested, we found that imipramine is an efficient Tat-catalase protein transduction enhancer into neuronal cells and more protective effects against oxidative stress. In addition, ischemic animal models, combined imipramine with Tat-catalase markedly prevented neuronal cell death in the CA1 region of the hippocampus compared Tat-catalase. Although the mechanism is not fully understood, enhancement of transduction efficiency provides a strategy for therapeutic proteins for a variety of disorders related to ROS.