Effect of oxidation on the properties of apolipoproteins A-I and A-II

Purified apolipoprotein A-I has been separated by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) into multiple peaks and these peaks have been characterized. One peak, apoA-Ib had a relatively longer retention time on HPLC but its retention time could be shortened by treatment by hydrogen peroxide. CNBr cleavage studies indicated that the differences in apoA-Ib and in its oxidation product, apoA-Ia, were due to the different oxidation states of methionine. This phenomenon was also observed in apoA-II, where methionine oxidation produced two more forms of this apolipoprotein in addition to the native form. These isomers were found to have different secondary structures and affinities for lipid. Model peptide analogs of the amphipathic helix with the same sequence but with methionine and methionine sulfoxide at the nonpolar face of the amphipathic helix were synthesized and studied. It was found that the lipid affinities of these synthetic peptide isomers were very different. They also differed in their secondary structures as studied by circular dichroism (CD). We propose that methionine oxidation introduces hydrophilic residues at the nonpolar face of the amphipathic helical domains of these apolipoproteins and, therefore, alters their secondary structure and lipid affinity.     

Metabolism of human apolipoproteins A-I and A-II: compartmental models

The metabolism of radioiodinated apolipoproteins (apo) A-I and A-II have been examined using the techniques of compartmental modeling. The model for apoA-I contains two plasma compartments decaying at different rates. One component of apoA-I has a residence time of 3.8 days and the second has a residence time of 6.1 days. In contrast, the apoA-II model has only one plasma component, with a residence time of 5.5 days, which decays through two distinct pathways. Twenty-seven percent of apoA-II decays through a pathway that takes 1.1 days longer to reach the urine than the remaining 73% which decays through the more direct path. These differences in the metabolism exist in both male and female populations. Comparison of fasting and nonfasting concentrations of apoA-I revealed that apoA-I concentration was elevated 0.5 standard deviations in the nonfasting samples while there was no significant difference in the apoA-II concentrations. The fasting apoA-I concentrations were found to be less stable over the study period when compared to fasting apoA-II concentrations. These findings are interpreted as indicating that apoA-I and apoA-II each have a separate metabolism which overlaps when they are present on the same lipoprotein particle. Furthermore, these findings are consistent with the concept that apoA-I metabolism is influenced more by perturbations such as dietary modulation.     

Rapid chromatographic purification of apolipoproteins A-I and A-II from human plasma

Rapid, large-scale isolation of human apolipoproteins A-I and A-II has been accomplished using two chromatographic procedures. The apolipoproteins adsorbed from plasma onto a column of phenyl-Sepharose are eluted with increasing propylene glycol concentrations. Apolipoproteins A-I and A-II can be resolved by elution with a linear 0 to 80% propylene glycol gradient. Homogeneous preparations of apo A-I and A-II are obtained following gel filtration in 3M guanidinium chloride.     

Silver-enhanced radial immunodiffusion assay of plasma apolipoproteins.

Silver-staining of immunoprecipitates extends the sensitivity of the radial immunodiffusion assay by tenfold. This modification permits the quantification of apolipoproteins A-I, A-II, C, and E at levels of 0.2-1.0 mg/dl in plasma samples at a sensitivity threshold of 10 ng. The silver-enhanced radial immunodiffusion method is readily adapted from the standard method, simple and inexpensive to perform, and does not require costly instrumentation. These advantages make the modified RID assay an attractive alternative to other forms of immunoassay.     

The surface properties of apolipoproteins A-I and A-II at the lipid/water interface

The monolayer system was employed to investigate the relative affinities of apolipoproteins A-I and A-II for the lipid/water interface. The adsorption of reductively 14C-methylated apolipoproteins to phospholipid monolayers spread at the air/water interface was determined by monitoring the surface pressure of the mixed monolayer and the surface concentration of the apoprotein. ApoA-II has a higher affinity than apoA-I for lipid monolayers; for a given initial surface pressure, apoA-II adsorbs more than apoA-I to monolayers of egg phosphatidylcholine (PC), distearoyl-PC and human high-density lipoprotein (HDL3) surface lipids. Comparison of the molecular packing of apolipoproteins A-I and A-II suggests that apoA-II adopts a more condensed conformation at the lipid/water interface compared to apoA-I. The ability of apoA-II to displace apoA-I from egg PC and HDL3 surface lipid monolayers was studied by following the adsorption and desorption of the reductively 14C-methylated apolipoproteins. At saturating subphase concentrations of the apoproteins (3.10(-5) g/100 ml), two molecules of apoA-II absorbed for each molecule of apoA-I displaced. This displacement was accompanied by an increase in surface pressure. An identical stoichiometry for the displacement of apoA-I from HDL particles by apoA-II has been reported by others. At low subphase concentrations of apoproteins (5.10(-6) g/100 ml), the apoA-I/lipid monolayer was not fully compressed and could accommodate the adsorbing apoA-II molecules without displacement of apoA-I molecules. ApoA-I molecules were unable to displace apoA-II from the lipid/water interface. The average residue hydrophobicity of apoA-II is higher than that of apoA-I; this may contribute to the higher affinity of apoA-II for lipids compared to apoA-I. The probable helical regions in apolipoproteins A-I and A-II were located using a secondary structure prediction algorithm. The analysis suggests that the amphiphilic properties of the alpha-helical regions of apoA-I and apoA-II are probably not significantly different. Further understanding of the differences in surface activity of these apolipoproteins will require more knowledge of their secondary and tertiary structures.     

Mechanism of inhibition of hepatic triglyceride lipase from human postheparin plasma by apolipoproteins A-I and A-II

The present data describe the mechanism of the inhibitory effects of human plasma apolipoproteins A-I and A-II on hydrolysis of triglyceride catalyzed by hepatic triglyceride lipase using a substrate of triolein particles stabilized with gum arabic in vitro. The experimental data could well be described by a model in which apolipoproteins bound to the surface of lipid substrate particles inhibited the enzyme reaction. The values of Km obtained were similar with or without inhibitors and the calculated saturation levels of apolipoprotein binding to the lipid were in good agreement with those obtained in independent binding experiments.     

Self-association of human apolipoproteins A-I and A-II and interactions of apolipoprotein A-I with bile salts: quasi-elastic light scattering studies

We employed quasi-elastic light scattering (QLS) to systematically study the aqueous self-association of human apolipoproteins A-I and A-II (apo A-I and apo A-II) and the interactions of apo A-I with common taurine-conjugated bile salts. Self-association of apo A-I was promoted by increases in apolipoprotein concentration (0.09-2.2 mg/mL) and ionic strength (0.15-2.0 M NaCl), inhibited by increases in temperature (5-50 degrees C) and guanidine hydrochloride concentration (0-2.0 M), and unaffected by hydrostatic pressures up to 500 atm. The mean hydrodynamic radius (Rh) of apo A-I micelles ranged from 38 A to a maximum asymptotic value of 68 A. We examined several possible models of apo A-I self-association; the model that best fitted the Rh values assumed that apo A-I monomers first interacted at low concentrations to form dimers, which then further associated to form ring-shaped limiting octamers. Comparison of the temperature-dependent and ionic strength dependent free energy changes for the formation of octamers from apo A-I dimers suggested that hydrophobic forces strongly favored self-association and that electrostatic repulsive forces were only weakly counteractive. Apo A-II self-association was also promoted by increases in apolipoprotein concentration (0.2-1.8 mg/mL) and inhibited by increases in guanidine hydrochloride concentration (0-1.0 M) but was unaffected by variations in temperature (10-37 degrees C): the largest Rh values observed were consistent with limiting tetramers. As demonstrated by equilibrium dialysis, bile salts in concentrations below their critical micellar concentrations (cmc) bound to apo A-I micelles but had no effect upon apo A-I self-association, as inferred from constant Rh values. When bile salt concentrations exceeded their aqueous cmc values, a dissociation of apo A-I micelles resulted with the formation of mixed bile salt/apo A-I micelles. These studies support the concepts that apo A-I and apo A-II form small dimeric micelles at low concentrations that grow sharply to reach limiting sizes over a narrow concentration range. The influences of bile salt concentration and species upon these micelles have relevance to the plasma transport of bile salts in high-density lipoproteins and to the physical-chemical state of apo A-I and apo A-II molecules in native biles.     

Hybrid association between human apolipoproteins A-I and A-II in aqueous solution and in phospholipid recombinants

The formation of hybrid association products between apolipoprotein A-I and apolipoprotein A-II from human high-density lipoprotein was investigated in solutions of these apolipoprotein and in recombinant particles with dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC). It was found that these two proteins interact in solution to form hybrid association products, but not to a marked degree. When these two proteins were incubated together with DMPC, it was likewise found that there was little tendency to reside on the same particle, as judged from the absence of hybrid oligomers by chemical cross-linking. By a modified immunoelectrophoretic method it was found that only about 15% of the A-II and 10% of the A-I were precipitated by the heterologous antiserum; from this it is concluded that 80–90% of these proteins do not form hybrid recombinants with the other protein. These results suggest that in the delipidated state, as well as in discoidal recombinants, there do not exist strong protein-protein interactions between A-I and A-II. This implies that even in the high-density lipoprotein, where both proteins coexist in the same particle, the A-II does not stabilize the molecular structure through interactions with A-I, and its role in this molecule remains obscure.     

A comparison of two methods to investigate the metabolism of human apolipoproteins A-I and and A-II.

Two methods are compared for measuring the kinetic parameters of apolipoprotein A-I and A-II metabolism in human plasma. In the first, high density lipoprotein apoproteins were radioiodinated in situ in the lipoprotein particle (endogenous apoprotein labeling) while in the second, individually labeled apolipoprotein A-I or A-II was incorporated into the particle by in vitro incubation (exogenous apoprotein labeling). The catabolic clearance rate of exogenously labeled apolipoprotein A-I was consistently faster than that of endogenous apolipoprotein A-I. Conversely, endogenously and exogenously labeled apolipoprotein A-II were catabolized at identical rates. The fractional plasma clearance rates of endogenous apolipoproteins A-I and A-II were the same.     

A comparison of the surface activities of human apolipoproteins A-I and A-II at the air/water interface

Surface pressure (pi) and adsorption isotherms for human apolipoproteins A-I and A-II at the air/water interface have been determined and used to deduce the probable molecular structures of the monomolecular films. The surface concentrations were measured using the surface radioactivity method to monitor the adsorption of reductively [14C]methylated apoproteins. Apolipoprotein A-I and apolipoprotein A-II are extremely surface-active proteins and adsorb to exert maximal pi values of 22 and 24 mN.m-1 respectively, at a steady-state subphase concentration of about 3.10(-5) g/100 ml (equivalent to 11 and 17 nM for apolipoprotein A-I and apolipoprotein A-II, respectively). At saturation monolayer coverage, the average molecular areas for apolipoprotein A-I and apolipoprotein A-II are 15 and 13 A2/residue, respectively. These packing densities are consistent with monolayers consisting largely of alpha-helical protein molecules lying with the long axes of the helical segments in the plane of the interface. Comparison of the molecular packings of spread and adsorbed monolayers of these proteins indicates that at low pi values, the adsorbed films are more expanded, but at high pi values, the molecular packing in both types of film is the same.     

Isolation of apolipoproteins A-I, A-II and E and their estimation by rocket immunoelectrophoresis in blood plasma of dis-alpha-lipoproteinemic patients

The methods for isolation of pure apolipoproteins A-I, A-II and E from the blood plasma of donors for preparation of monospecific rabbit antisera against these apolipoproteins and their estimation in human blood plasma using immunoelectrophoresis are described. It was found that the average content of apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) in the blood plasma of healthy males is 126.6 mg%, that of apolipoprotein A-II (apo A-II) is 56.8 mg%, that of apolipoprotein E (apo E) is 10.2 mg%. The apo A-I content in blood plasma is increased in hyper-alpha-lipoproteinemic patients and is decreased in hypo-alpha-lipoproteinemic ones, i. e. there is a direct relationship between the changes in concentration of high density lipoproteins (HDL) and apo A-I. The concentration of apo A-II in dis-alpha-lipoproteinemias varies within a narrow range. A considerable increase of the alpha-cholesterol/apo A-I ratio suggesting an increased capacity of HDL to transport cholesterol in hyper-alpha-lipoproteinemic patients is observed. There exists an indirect correlation between the changes in the contents of apo A-I and apo E in dis-alpha-lipoproteinemic patients.     

Coupling of photoactivatable glycolipid probes to apolipoproteins A-I and A-II in human high density lipoproteins 2 and 3

High density lipoprotein (HDL) from human serum was subfractionated into HDL2 and HDL3 by rate-zonal density gradient ultracentrifugation. The orientation of apoproteins (apo) A-I and A-II in these subfractions was investigated by use of the photosensitive glycolipid probes, 2-(4-azido-2-nitrophenoxy)-palmitoyl[1-14C]glucosamine (compound A) and 12-(4-azido-2-nitrophenoxy)-stearoyl[1-14C]glucosamine (compound B). Both probes were added to the HDL-structures in a ratio of two or three probe molecules per particle and were photoactivated by irradiation at a wavelength above 340 nm. After delipidation the probe-apoprotein adducts were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Both the "shallow" probe (compound A) and the "depth" probe (compound B) were coupled for 10-14% (of the label added) to apoA-I and apoA-II from HDL3 and for about 6% to apoA-I and apoA-II from HDL2. By taking into account the relative amounts of apoA-I and apoA-II, it was estimated that the "shallow" probe labeled apoA-I 40% more effectively than apoA-II in both HDL2 and HDL3; the "depth" probe labeled apoA-I and apoA-II equally well in both subfractions. The data suggest that towards the surface HDL2 and HDL3 contain a relatively larger portion of apoA-I than apoA-II, whilst towards the core both subfractions are occupied by an equal portion of apoA-I and apoA-II. Application of these photolabels has failed to point out differences in the structural organization of HDL2 and HDL3.     

Characterization of lipoprotein particles isolated by immunoaffinity chromatography. Particles containing A-I and A-II and particles containing A-I but no A-II

Two populations of A-I-containing lipoprotein particles: A-I-containing lipoprotein with A-II (Lp (A-I with A-II], and A-I-containing lipoprotein without A-II (Lp (A-I without A-II] have been isolated from plasma of 10 normolipidemic subjects by immunoaffinity chromatography and characterized. Both types of particles possess alpha-electrophoretic mobility and hydrated density in the range of plasma high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Lp (A-I without A-II) and Lp (A-I with A-II) are heterogeneous in size. Lp (A-I without A-II) comprised two distinct particle sizes with mean apparent molecular weight and Stokes diameter of 3.01 X 10(5), and 10.8 nm for Lp (A-I without A-II)1, and 1.64 X 10(5), and 8.5 nm for Lp (A-I without A-II)2. Lp (A-I with A-II) usually contained particles of at least three distinct molecular sizes with mean apparent molecular weight and Stokes diameter of 2.28 X 10(5) and 9.6 nm for Lp (A-I with A-II)1, 1.80 X 10(5) and 8.9 nm for Lp (A-I with A-II)2, and 1.25 X 10(5) and 8.0 nm for Lp (A-I with A-II)3. Apoproteins C, D, and E, and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) were detected in both Lp (A-I without A-II) and Lp (A-I with A-II) with most of the apoprotein D, and E, and LCAT (EC 2.3.1.43) in Lp (A-I with A-II) particles. Lp (A-I without A-II) had a slightly higher lipid/protein ratio than Lp (A-I with A-II). Lp (A-I with A-II) had an A-I/A-II molar ratio of approximately 2:1. The percentage of plasma A-I associated with Lp (A-I without A-II) was highly correlated with the A-I/A-II ratio of plasma (r = 0.96, n = 10). The variation in A-I/A-II ratio of HDL density subfractions therefore reflects different proportions of two discrete types of particles: particles containing A-I and A-II in a nearly constant ratio and particles containing A-II but no A-II. Each type of particle is heterogeneous in size and in apoprotein composition.     

Formation of spherical, reconstituted high density lipoproteins containing both apolipoproteins A-I and A-II is mediated by lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase

Previous studies have provided detailed information on the formation of spherical high density lipoproteins (HDL) containing apolipoprotein (apo) A-I but no apoA-II (A-I HDL) by an lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT)-mediated process. In this study we have investigated the formation of spherical HDL containing both apoA-I and apoA-II (A-I/A-II HDL). Incubations were carried out containing discoidal A-I reconstituted HDL (rHDL), discoidal A-II rHDL, and low density lipoproteins in the absence or presence of LCAT. After the incubation, the rHDL were reisolated and subjected to immunoaffinity chromatography to determine whether A-I/A-II rHDL were formed. In the absence of LCAT, the majority of the rHDL remained as either A-I rHDL or A-II rHDL, with only a small amount of A-I/A-II rHDL present. By contrast, when LCAT was present, a substantial proportion of the reisolated rHDL were A-I/A-II rHDL. The identity of the particles was confirmed using apoA-I rocket electrophoresis. The formation of the A-I/A-II rHDL was influenced by the relative concentrations of the precursor discoidal A-I and A-II rHDL. The A-I/A-II rHDL included several populations of HDL-sized particles; the predominant population having a Stokes' diameter of 9.9 nm. The particles were spherical in shape and had an electrophoretic mobility slightly slower than that of the alpha-migrating HDL in human plasma. The apoA-I:apoA-II molar ratio of the A-I/A-II rHDL was 0.7:1. Their major lipid constituents were phospholipids, unesterified cholesterol, and cholesteryl esters. The results presented are consistent with LCAT promoting fusion of the A-I rHDL and A-II rHDL to form spherical A-I/A-II rHDL. We suggest that this process may be an important source of A-I/A-II HDL in human plasma.     

Quantitation of apolipoprotein A-I in pooled human serum by single radial immunodiffusion and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Apolipoprotein A-I was released from human HDL particles by treatment with 8 M urea, and the free apolipoprotein exhibited identical antigenicity and the same low mobility as purified apolipoprotein A-I in electrophoresis. Treatment of serum with 8 M urea enabled enabled quantitation of apolipoprotein A-I by single radial immunodiffusion assay, as judged by comparison with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

Binding of cholesterol by apolipoproteins A-I and E]

It was shown that cholesterol can interact with some guanidine group-containing compounds (guanidine proper, arginine, metformine and dodecylguanidine bromide) as well as with the arginine-rich proteins--apoproteins A-1 and E. In the latter case this interaction results in the formation of cholesterol-apoprotein complexes. Analysis of such complexes revealed that one apo-A-1 molecule binds 17-22, whereas one apo-E molecule--30-35 sterol molecules, which approximately correspondence to the amount of arginine residues in these proteins. The formation of cholesterol-apoprotein complexes seems to be due to: (1) formation of hydrogen bonds and ion-dipole interactions between the hydroxyl groups of cholesterol and the guanidine groups of the apoprotein arginine residues and, presumably, the carboxylic groups of aspartic or glutamic acids, eventually resulting in the production of chelate complexes; (2) hydrophobic interaction of the cholesterol aliphatic chain with the nonpolar side chains of the amino acids occupying the third position from arginine in the protein molecule.     

Evaluation of the mixed interaction between apolipoproteins A-II and C-I by equilibrium sedimentation

The mixed interaction between human apolipoproteins C-I and A-II, each of which self-associate in aqueous solution, has been evaluated by sedimentation equilibrium measurements. In order to simplify data analysis apoC-I and apoA-II were modified by treatment with 2-nitrophenylsulfenyl chloride and tetranitromethane respectively. The molecular properties of the resulting derivatives, S-apoC-I and N-apoA-II, each of which have appreciable extinction coefficients above 350 run, were indistinguishable from the corresponding unmodified species. Sedimentation equilibrium data were obtained with mixtures of S-apoC-I and native apoA-II, N-apoA-II and native apoC-I, and native apoC-I and native apoA-II. Mixed complex formation was detected readily with all mixtures investigated. The combined results were most consistent with a single mixed oligomer containing 2 molecules of apoA-II and 4 molecules of apoC-I. The corresponding equilibrium constant was 31 248 ± 890 ($\text{XXX}\text{gm}$)⁵.     

Evaluation of the measurement of B protein of plasma low density lipoprotein by radial immunodiffusion

Radial immunodiffusion (RID) has been used for determination of low density lipoprotein (LDL) B protein in plasma. During measurement of B protein in plasma and the d less than and d greater than 1.019 g/ml plasma fractions by RID in 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, and 2.5% agarose, the d less than 1.019 g/ml lipoproteins diffuse in the agarose and produce precipitin rings. Among normotriglyceridemic subjects, the B protein values in whole plasma obtained by RID using 1.5 to 2.5% agarose were only slightly higher than the values in the d greater than 1.019 g/ml fraction obtained by RID and closely approximated the values obtained in the d greater than 1.019 g/ml fraction by radioimmunoassay. However, among the hypertriglyceridemic subjects, the RID measurement of B protein in plasma using 1.0 to 2.5% agarose overestimated the LDL B protein levels in plasma. The RID procedure at agarose concentrations of 1.5% to 2.5% can be used to estimate plasma LDL B protein levels in normotriglyceridemic subjects. However, measurement of LDL B protein by RID in plasma of hypertriglyceridemic subjects must be interpreted with caution; the LDL B protein is overestimated by this procedure because of the contribution by the d less than 1.019 g/ml lipoproteins to the B protein value.     

Effects of apolipoproteins A-IV and A-I on the uptake of phospholipid liposomes by hepatocytes

We examined the effects of apolipoproteins A-IV and A-I on the catabolism of whole particles by hepatoma G2 cells and cultured primary hepatocytes. For this type of experiment, high density lipoprotein is unsuitable, because all of its lipid and protein components independently dissociate and exchange and hence poorly trace whole particle catabolism. We therefore used phosphatidylcholine liposomes with radioactive tracers entrapped within their aqueous cores. Apolipoproteins A-IV, A-I, or E added to liposomes became liposome-associated and produced no detectable release of encapsulated label. As a positive control, apolipoprotein E doubled the uptake of labeled liposomes by hepatoma cells, compared to apolipoprotein-free controls, and this increase could be blocked by the addition of excess unlabeled low density lipoprotein. Degradation of labeled liposomes by hepatoma cells was increased 6-fold by the addition of apolipoprotein E. In contrast, neither apolipoprotein A-IV nor A-I increased cellular uptake or degradation of the particles. Similar results were obtained with primary hepatocytes. In studies using apolipoprotein combinations, apolipoproteins A-IV and A-I were each able to displace apolipoprotein E from liposomes and thereby reduce cellular uptake. Our data indicate that apolipoproteins A-IV and A-I do not facilitate uptake or degradation of whole particles by liver-derived cells in vitro. However, these apolipoproteins may modulate receptor-mediated uptake of particles by reducing the amount of particle-bound apolipoprotein E.     

Lipid-free apolipoproteins A-I and A-II promote remodeling of reconstituted high density lipoproteins and alter their reactivity with lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase

We examined the effect of lipid-free apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and apoA-II on the structure of reconstituted high density lipoproteins (rHDL) and on their reactivity as substrates for lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT). First, homogeneous rHDL were prepared with either apoA-I or apoA-II using palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC) and cholesterol. Lipid-free apoA-I and apoA-II were labeled with the fluorescent probe dansyl chloride (DNS). The binding kinetics of apoA-I-DNS to A-II-POPCrHDL and of apoA-II-DNS to A-I-POPCrHDL were monitored by fluorescence polarization, adding the lipid-free apolipoproteins to the rHDL particles in a 1:1 molar ratio. For both apolipoproteins, the binding to rHDL was rapid, occurring within 5 min. Next, the effect on rHDL structure and particle size was determined after incubations of lipid-free apolipoproteins with homogeneous rHDL at 37 degrees C from 0.5 to 24 h. The products were analyzed by non-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis followed by Western blotting. The effect of apoA-I or apoA-II on 103 A A-II-POPCrHDL was a rearrangement into 78 A particles containing apoA-I and/or apoA-II, and 90 A particles containing only apoA-II. The effect of apoA-I or apoA-II on 98 A A-I-POPCrHDL was a rearrangement into complexes ranging in size from 78 A to 105 A containing apoA-I and/or apoA-II, with main particles of 78 A, 88 A, and 98 A. Finally, the effect of lipid-free apoA-I and apoA-II on rHDL as substrates for LCAT was determined. The addition of apoA-I to A-II-POPCrHDL increased its reactivity with LCAT 24-fold, reflected by a 4-fold increase in apparent V(m)ax and a 6-fold decrease in apparent K(m), while the addition of apoA-II to A-II-POPCrHDL had no effect on its minimal reactivity with LCAT. In contrast, the addition of apoA-II to A-I-POPCrHDL decreased the reaction with LCAT by about one-half. The inhibition was due to a 2-fold increase in apparent K(m); there was no significant change in apparent V(m)ax. Likewise, the addition of apoA-I to A-I-POPCrHDL inhibited the reaction with LCAT to about two-thirds that of A-I-POPCrHDL without added apoA-I. In summary, both lipid-free apoA-I and apoA-II can promote the remodeling of rHDL into hybrid particles of primarily smaller size. Both apoA-I and apoA-II affect the reactivity of rHDL with LCAT, when added to the reaction in lipid-free form. These results have important implications for the roles of lipid-free apoA-I and apoA-II in HDL maturation and metabolism.