Redox-active lipid-incorporating proteins as a novel immobilisation technique

A novel chiral redox-active ferrocene compound (FcV1) with amphiphilic properties has been synthesised and used successfully to form protein + lipid 'clusters' with ferritin and gold-labelled BSA. These structures could be observed by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy and had diameters between 40 and 300 nm. It was shown that the novel lipid formed reasonably stable films on an edge plane graphite electrode surface and also mediated the electron transfer between flavocytochrome b(2) and this electrode. Consequently, the enzyme was incorporated into an FcV1 film and its response towards L(+)lactate in solution investigated. It could be shown that the electrode indeed was sensitive to L(+)lactate. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.