Abstract: The present invention relates to a safe, simple, compact synthetic and potentially non-toxic vector that is comprised of two or more complementary strands of chemically-synthesized deoxyribonucleic (DNA) acid that, when annealed to one another, form a cassette for the efficient expression of single-stranded or double-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules. The RNA molecules expressed from this synthetic vector may function as ribozymes, as antisense molecules, or as short, interfering RNA molecules. Alternatively, the RNA molecules may encode therapeutic or antigenic peptides, polypeptides, or proteins. This synthetic vector may be employed for the rapid screening of various candidate RNA molecules for their efficacy in gene silencing or other functions, or for the delivery of RNA molecules in therapeutic applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to internalizing peptides which facilitate the uptake and transport of cargo into the cytoplasm and nuclei of cells as well as methods for the identification of such peptides. The internalizing peptides of the present invention are selected for their ability to efficiently internalize cargo into a wide variety of cell types both in vivo and in vitro. The method for identification of the internalizing peptides of the present invention comprises incubating a target cell with a peptide display library, isolating peptides with internalization characteristics and determining the ability of said peptide to internalize cargo into a cell.