The present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid comprising the
nucleotides set forth in the Sequence Listing as SEQ ID NO: 1. SEQ ID NO:
1 is an example of GP64-6His nucleic acid. The invention further provides
polypeptides encoded by GP64-6His nucleic acids as well as the
polypeptide encoded by SEQ ID NO: 2. The invention also provides
liposomes comprising GP64-6His polypeptides as well as liposomes
comprising GP64-6His polypeptides and biological molecules. The invention
further provides a method of increasing the solubility of polypeptides
comprising linking a 6His tag to a polypeptide and measuring the
solubility of the 6His-tagged polypeptide, whereby an increase in
solubility of the 6His-tagged polypeptide can be detected. The invention
also provides a method of solubilizing a viral fusion polypeptide
comprising linking a 6His tag to a viral fusion polypeptide. Further
provided is a method of delivering a biological molecule to a cell
comprising, administering the liposome comprising a GP64-6His polypeptide
to a cell. This invention also provides a method of delivering a viral
vaccine to a cell comprising administering the liposome comprising a
GP64-6His polypeptide to a cell. Also provided is a method of delivering
a DNA vaccine to a cell comprising administering the liposome comprising
a GP64-6His polypeptide to a cell. Further provided is a GP64-6His
polypeptide further comprising a binding site for a cell surface
molecule. Also provided by this invention are chimeric proteins
comprising GP64-6His.