PROTEIN ADDUCTS WITH WATER-SOLUBLE POLY(A LKYLENE OXIDES)

The review deals with methods of protein modification by amphiphilic w ater-soluble block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide an d also with characterization and properties of the resulting adducts. Two main classes of such adducts are considered - conjugates, which ar e the products of covalent coupling of polymers to protein globule, an d non-covalent complexes. It is shown that conjugates of hydrophilic p roteins with amphiphilic block copolymers gain a number of new propert ies such as a capability of penetrating the plasma membrane of thymus- derived lymphocytes; effective solubilization and transport of water-i nsoluble biologically active compounds, and an ability of interaction with various surface-active compounds.