Cellular Uptake of PNA−Terpyridine Conjugates and Its Enhancement by Zn2+ Ions

Abstract
Conjugation of usually impermeable peptide nucleic acids (PNA) to the chelator 2,2‘:6‘,2‘ ‘-terpyridine strongly promotes cellular and nuclear uptake by cultured HeLa cells. Cellular accumulation is further enhanced in the presence of extracellular Zn2+.