ELOA – Equine Lysozyme Complexes with Oleic Acid

Complexes of e quine l ysozyme with o leic a cid (ELOA) belong to the group of proteinaceous complexes with oleic acid, among which ‘human α-lactalbumin made lethal to tumor cells’ (HAMLET) was the first to be discovered and is the most well known. The major functional feature of these complexes is their newly acquired cytotoxicity, which is absent in the original protein molecules; this indicates that the interaction of these proteins with oleic acid can create a new functionality. Modern single molecule–single cell techniques, such as atomic force microscopy, fluorescent correlation spectroscopy and confocal microscopy, together with other biophysical and biochemical methods, can provide a powerful insight into the molecular mechanisms of the ELOA interactions with cells and, in particular, how the cell membrane is targeted. HAMLET-type complexes have significant therapeutic potential in combating cancers, hence, understanding their molecular interactions with cells will help us to use them under a variety of in vivo conditions for the elimination of specific, unwanted cells.