Nonnatural phospholipids: Probing nature's modular platform

Abstract

Life as we know it would not be possible without a cellular membrane, without a separation between two compartments. This plasma membrane, however, remains a difficult object to study directly. The synthesis of nonnatural phospholipids thus provides valuable probes for experiments at the membrane-level and integrates organic chemistry with basic biophysics and biology. A few of the concepts are highlighted in this brief overview. © Schweizerische Chemische Gesellschaft.