Synthetic receptors for phospholipid headgroups

Small molecules that can selectively recognize phospholipids would likely be useful as tools for chemical biology and may have application as pharmaceuticals. Inspired by the phospholipid binding and transport systems found in nature, researchers have begun to develop synthetic receptors for phospholipid headgroups. These molecules range from 'simple' phosphate binders to more complex multi-topic receptors. This review provides an overview of the best characterized biological phospholipid receptors, as well as a comprehensive summary of the synthetic receptors reported thus far. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.