Use of amphipathic polymers to deliver a membrane protein to lipid bilayers

Data are presented which suggest that a class of amphiphilic polymers known as 'amphipols' may serve as a vehicle for delivering complex integral memb rane proteins into membranes. The integral membrane protein diacylglycerol kinase (DAGK) was maintained in soluble form by either of two different amp hipols. Small aliquots of these solutions were added to pre-formed lipid ve sicles and the appearance of DAGK catalytic activity was monitored as an in dicator of the progress of productive protein insertion into the bilayers. For one of the two amphipols tested, DAGK was observed to productively tran sfer from its amphipol complex into vesicles with moderate efficiency. Resu lts were not completely clear for the other amphipol. (C) 2001 Federation o f European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All ri ghts reserved.