Patent ID: 8865160

Claim:
A method of enhancing viability of islets of Langerhans which comprise β-cells for purposes of transplantation, comprising contacting the islets of Langerhans with a composition comprising a multi-domain conjugate comprising, from N-terminus to C-terminus, a mitochondrial localization sequence comprising a manganese Superoxide Dismutase (MNSOD) sequence MLSRAVCGTSRQLAPALGYLGSRQ (SEQ ID NO:1), a DNA repair enzyme comprising human 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (hOGG1) or Endonuclease III (Endo III), and a protein transduction domain comprising a TAT protein having the amino acid sequence YGRKKRRQRRR (SEQ ID NO:8), in an amount effective to enhance viability of the β-cells.