A novel leucine zipper motif-based hybrid peptide delivers a functional peptide cargo inside cells.

A hybrid comprising an autophagy-inducing peptide (AIP) and a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) connected via heterodimeric leucine zippers was generated and delivered into cells. The hybrid successfully induced autophagy without significant cell death, while the same AIP directly connected to a CPP caused both autophagy and significant cell death.