CP7 Control Products

Description

VIPER is a TLR4 specific inhibitory peptide that potently inhibits TLR4-mediated responses and is inert towards other TLR pathways (Bowie et al, 2010; Lysakova-Devine et al, 2010) . The TLR4 inhibitor consists of an 11 amino acid (KYSFKLILAEY) inhibitory sequence, derived from the A46 vaccinia virus protein, linked to a 9R (RRRRRRRRR) homopolymer delivery sequence.

CP7 is an inert control peptide. The control consists of an 11 amino acid (RNTISGNIYSA) inert sequence also linked to a 9R homopolymer delivery sequence. The 9R sequence efficiently delivers the peptides into cells. CP7 is designed to be a negative control peptide for inhibitory assays.

We note that this inhibitor is the first viral inhibitory peptide identified that is specific for a particular TLR pathway. Inhibition of TLR4 within the context of the overall TLR signaling network is illustrated in Figure 2. VIPER should be useful for elucidating new mechanisms and molecular interactions involved in TLR4 signaling, and may also have potential for leading to the development of a new class of novel therapeutics that perturb TLR4 signaling by targeting Mal and TRAM TIR domains. The identification of additional short virally derived peptides that perturb TLR signaling is sure to open a new era in knowledge about how viruses specifically interact with host immune systems.