BIOSYNTHETIC LIPID-TAGGING OF ANTIBODIES

Chemical conjugation of fatty acids to antibodies generates lipid-modi fied molecules which have found use in the targeting of liposome-media ted drug delivery and in liposome-based immunoassays. Alternatively, b acterial expression of antibodies as single-chain Fv fragments fused t o lipoprotein signal peptide and N-terminal sequence leads to in vivo enzymatic addition of a single glycerolipid group at the N-terminus of the molecule. This lipid-modification converts the antibody from a so luble protein into a functional membrane-bound molecule. These biosynt hetically lipid-tagged antibodies may prove useful for immobilization of antibodies to membranes in various biotechnological applications.