MSI1-S347 decoy peptide

MSI1-S347 decoy peptide is a cell-penetrating therapeutic peptide designed to inhibit the phosphorylation of Musashi-1 (MSI1) at the Serine 347 (S347) residue. MSI1 is an RNA-binding protein and oncoprotein that drives tumorigenesis and metastasis in glioblastoma (GBM). The peptide consists of an S347-mimic sequence fused to a TAT protein transduction domain for cellular entry. By acting as a competitive inhibitor, it prevents the phosphorylation of MSI1, which is a critical switch for the expression and localization of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9. This inhibition suppresses the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and reduces the invasive potential of GBM cells. Developed by researchers at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, it represents a specific strategy to target MSI1 without affecting its homolog MSI2, which lacks the S347 site.