For the purpose of cleavage of integral membrane proteins, the artificial phospholipid, possessing saturated alkyl chains as a membrane anchor and protein recognition site as well as an Fe(III)–EDTA moiety as a protein cleavable polar head group, was designed and synthesized by the use of phosphoramidite method. The cleavage activity with the artificial phospholipid toward influenza virus membrane protein, hemagglutinin (HA), was observed in a selective manner. It has been shown that the lipophilic hydrocarbon chains of the synthesized phospholipid are essential structural elements for cleavage of HA.
