ABSTRACT
This chapter provides the possibilities by chemically modified phospholipids in bioengineering. Simple procedures for the coupling of phospholipids to proteins, peptides, and carbohydrates is provided. Application of phospholipids as "anchors" for the attachment of proteins and other natural and synthetic molecules to liposomes and biomembranes is briefly discussed as well as the labeling of liposomes with modified phospholipids. During the phospholipid-protein reaction, the unreacted phospholipid as well as the unreacted protein and detergent can be removed easily from the system; chromatography or electrophoresis can be used. Phospholipid conjugates with Bence-Jones monomer protein are water-soluble even in the absence of detergents. They exist in the form of protein-phospholipid "supermicelles," which permit an irreversible, spontaneous incorporation of the modified protein into phospholipid vesicles after prolonged in-cubation. Phospholipid molecules often need to be attached to low molecular weight compounds or to organic polymers that are not inactivated upon contact with organic solvents.
