Lectin-Induced Aggregation of Glycophorin-Reconstituted Liposomes

In order to make an artificial cell (liposome) tougher and morecell specific for biotechnolo-gical utilization, a glycophorin-reconstituted liposome bearing an artificial boundary lipid in its bilayer membrane has been newly developed. The synthesized boundary lipid, 1, 2-dimyristoylamido-l, 2-deoxyphosphatidylcholine (DDPC), carries an amide bond instead of the carboxylic ester bond in common phosphatidylcholines. This modified lipid holds a membrane protein more effectively in the liposomal membrane than does sphingomyelin in nature. Moreover, enzymatic treatment of saccharide moiety of glycpphorin on the liposomal surface brought about a change of the specificity of artificial cell to lectins and phagocytes. Therefore, the saccharide moiety of glycophorin was considered to play a role as an effective sensory device for molecular recognition on the surface of the artificial cell of liposome.