Interaction of the apoproteins of very low density and high density lipoproteins with synthetic phospholipids.

The interaction of synthetic dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) liposomes with isolated apoC-I and apoC-III proteins from very low density lipoproteins has been studied by microcalorimetry. Complex formation is a highly exothermal process characterized by a maximal enthalpy of -130 kcal/mol (-544 kJ) apoC-III-1 and -65 kcal/mol apoC-I proteins (-272 kJ). The complex composition determined after its isolation by ultracentrifugal flotation agrees with the value derived from the enthalpy binding curves. The binding of a constant amount of dimyristoyl lecithin to apoprotein mixtures containing various proportions of apoA-I and apoC-III failed to demonstrate the existence of any preferential association between the two apoproteins, in contrast with results obtained previously with apoA-I/apoA-II protein mixtures. Finally the various contributions to the enthalpy of binding such as that arising from an increase in apoprotein helicity have been evaluated. A classification of the apolipoproteins according to their lipid-binding affinity is proposed as: apoA-II congruent to apoC-III greater than apoC-I greater than apoA-I proteins.     

Effect of the human plasma apolipoproteins and phosphatidylcholine acyl donor on the activity of lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase.

The human plasma apoproteins apoA-I and apoC-I enhanced the activity of partially purified lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase five to tenfold with chemically defined phosphatidylcholine:cholesterol single bilayer vesicles as substrates. By contrast, apoproteins apoA-II, apoC-II, and apoC-III did not give any enhancement of enzyme activity. The activation by apoA-I and apoC-I differed, depending upon the nature of the hydrocarbon chains of phosphatidylcholine acyl donor. ApoA-I was most effective with a phosphatidylcholine containing an unsaturated fatty acyl chain. ApoC-I activated LCAT to the same extent with both saturated and unsaturated phosphatidylcholine substrates. Two of the four peptides obtained by cyanogen bromide cleavage of apoA-I retained some ability to activate LCAT. The efficacy of each of these peptides was approximately 25% that of the whole protein. Cyanogen bromide fragments of apoC-I were inactive. The apoproteins from HDL, HDL2, and HDL3, at low protein concentrations, were equally effective as activators of LCATand less effective than apoA-I. Higher concentrations of apoHDL, apoHDL2, and apoHDL3 inhibited LCAT activity. ApoC and apoA-II were both found to inhibit the activation of LCAT by apoA-I. The inhibition of LCAT by higher concentrations of apoHDL was not correlated with the aopA-II and apoC content.     

A comparative study on the removal of cellular lipids from Landschütz ascites cells by human plasma apolipoproteins.

The effects of human plasma lipoprotein-proteins on the removal of cellular lipids from Landschütz ascites cells were studied. Cellular lipids were labeled by injecting mice previously injected with ascites with either [3H]cholesterol or [3H]choline. Apoproteins from very low density (apoC-I, C-II, and C-111) and high density (apoA-I and A-II) lipoproteins were used. Each of the apoproteins alone was ineffective in removing cellular [3H]cholesterol. However, when synthetic phosphatidylcholines of known composition were added to each apoprotein and the experiments were repeated using either apoprotein-lipid mixtures or ultracentrifugally isolated complexes, the removal of sterol was considerably enhanced. Complexes of saturated phosphatidylcholines with apoA-II, apoC-I, or apoC-III were the most effective in releasing cellular sterol. Apoprotein-phospholipid complexes were much less effective in removing cellular [3H]phosphatidylcholine than the free apoproteins; apoA-I and apoC-I were the best of the five apoproteins studied. When a comparison was made of the adsorption of iodinated apoproteins to ascites cells, 3 to 4 times more apoA-II and apoC-III were bound than apoA-I. The binding of apoproteins was time and temperature dependent. Approximately 50% of the radioactivity that remained in the washed cells was removed with trypsin. To determine if the counts remaining in the trypsin-treated cells were internalized, identical experiments were performed using human erythrocytes, cells that do not exhibit pinocytosis. Again, approximately 50% of the radioactivity of the iodinated apoproteins was not released by trypsin. Succinylation of apoA-II not only destroys its phospholipid-binding properties but also its adsorption to red cells. These results suggest that the plasma apoproteins differ in their ability to remove cellular lipids and bind to both ascites and red cell membranes, and possibly to specific phospholipids, in such a way that only a part of the apoprotein is degraded with proteases.     

Physical properties of isolated complexes of human and bovine A-I apolipoproteins with L-alpha-dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine.

Human or bovine A-I apolipoproteins in solution form complexes with sonicated L-alpha-dimirystoyl phosphatidylcholine at 23 and 37 degrees, but not at 8 degrees, suggesting a strong dependence of the interaction on the physical state of the lipid (phase transition temperature 23 degrees). Complexes were isolated by gel filtration on a Sepharose 4B column and were subsequently analyzed for protein and lipid content, molecular weight, and physical state of the lipid portion. The average stoichiometry of all complexes, regardless of the initial concentrations or ratios of protein and lipid, was constant: 90 +/- 20 mol of phospholipid/mol of protein monomer, suggesting a highly cooperative interaction. Sedimentation equilibrium experiments indicated homogeneous macromolecular preparations and gave molecular weights around 235,000 (+/- 15%) for the complexes, with the human and bovine apo-A-I proteins contributing 77,000 (+/- 10%), i.e. about three protein subunits per complex. The lipid portion of the complexes retained some characteristics of a bilayer: it had a broad phase transition with a midpoint at 25.5 degrees as reported by the fluorescence polarization of the lipophilic probe diphenylhexatriene. Above the phase transition temperature the mobility of the phospholipids in the complexes with both apo-A-I proteins was considerably decreased relative to the pure L-alpha-dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine dispersion; below the phase transition temperature the opposite was true, i.e. the protein fluidized the lipids. The results indicate that apol-A-I proteins interact stoichiometrically with L-alpha-dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine vesicles above the gel to liquid-crystalline transition temperature of the lipid, promoting the destruction of vesicles and the formation of well defined particles of the general size of high density serum lipoproteins.     

Monoclonal antibodies as probes of high-density lipoprotein structure: identification and localization of a lipid-dependent epitope

Eight stable murine monoclonal antibodies (mabs) were raised against human high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Three different antibody reactivities were demonstrated by immunoblotting. A group of five antibodies were specific for apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and bound to similar or overlapping epitopes. The second type of reactivity, shown by mab-32, was specific for apoA-II. In the third group, two antibodies showed high reactivity with apoA-II and slight cross-reactivity with apoA-I. The properties of two antibodies, mab M-30 specific for apoA-I and mab M-32 specific for apoAII, were characterized in detail as probes of HDL structure. The association of 125I-labeled HDL or synthetic complexes of apoA-I and phosphatidylcholine with mab M-30 was lipid dependent. Mab M-32 binding to apoA-II was independent of lipid. The lipid-dependent epitope bound by mab M-30 has been localized to an 18 amino acid synthetic apoA-I peptide. Moreover, studies with HDL2, HDL3, and immunoadsorbed HDL subfractions indicate that binding of mab M-30 to HDL is influenced by some component within the microenvironment individual HDL particles. These lines of evidence suggest that the molar ratio of apoA-I to apoA-II is the critical determinant. Binding of mab M-32 to HDL increased the reactivity of HDL to mab M-30 in a dose-dependent manner, indicating an unusual form of cooperativity between two mabs that recognize different proteins in HDL. These monoclonal antibodies will be valuable in studies of the metabolic significance of protein-protein and lipid-protein interactions in HDL.     

Characterization of baboon plasma high-density lipoproteins and of their major apoproteins.

Baboon high-density lipoproteins (HDL) were isolated by preparative ultracentrifugation between d = 1.063 and 1.215 g/mL. The HDL contains 48.8% protein and a lipid distribution similar to human HDL. The phospholipid distribution shows a low sphingomyelin value (5.9%), and the fatty acid composition of HDL is comparable to the human data except for the 18:1/18:2 ratio as a result of a higher 18:1 content in the CE and a lower 18:2 concentration in the PL. The major HDL apoproteins isolated on diethylaminoethyl-cellulose had a mobility on sodium dodecyl sulfate--polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and a molecular weight and an amino acid composition similar to human apoA-I. However, the amino acid sequence of the first 30 residues of baboon apoA-I differed from the human apoprotein in residues 15 and 21. Treatment of apoA-I with carboxypeptidase A indicated a carboxyl-terminal sequence of Leu-Ser-Thr-Gln. Baboon apoHDL contained monomeric apoA-II with the mobility of monomeric human apoA-II and a molecular weight of 8500. The amino acid composition differed from the human apoA-II by the presence of arginine and by the absence of half-cystine and isoleucine. The circular dichroic spectra of apoA-I and apoA-II demonstrated a higher helicity compared to the human apoproteins. Recombination studies by microcalorimetry of apoHDL with dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) indicated similarities in the thermodynamic binding properties of the HDL apoproteins from man and baboon. The maximal-binding enthalpies of DMPC to apoHDL, apoA-I, and apoA-II were lower for the baboon than for the human apoprotein.     

Homologues of the human C and A apolipoproteins in the Macaca fascicularis (cynomolgus) monkey

We used antisera to human A and C apolipoproteins to identify homologues of these proteins among the high-density lipoprotein apoproteins of Macaca fascicularis (cynomolgus) monkeys, and NH2-terminal analysis was used to verify the homology. The NH2-terminal sequence of the M. fascicularis apoA-I is identical with that of another Old World species, Erythrocebus patas, and differs from human apoA-I at only 4 of the first 24 residues. M. fascicularis apoA-II contains a serine for cysteine replacement at position 6 and is therefore monomeric like the apoA-II from all species below apes. Human and monkey apoA-II are not otherwise different through their first 25 residues. About 20% of M. fascicularis apoC-I aligns with human apoC-I through residue 22, and 80% lacks an NH2-terminal dipeptide. Otherwise, the monkey apoC-I differs from the human protein at only 2 of 25 positions. Two forms of M. fascicularis apoC-II were identified. ApoC-II1 is highly homologous with human apoC-II, whereas an NH2-terminal hexapeptide is absent from apoC-II2. ApoC-II2 was the predominant species, and apoC-II1 appears to represent a propeptide from which a hexapeptide prosegment is cleaved at a Gln-Asp bond. Both forms of monkey apoC-II are potent activators of lipoprotein lipase. There are two polymorphic forms of M. fascicularis apoC-III, and their electrophoretic mobilities become identical after treatment with neuraminidase. Except for a glycine for serine substitution at position 10, the first 15 NH2-terminal residues of M. fascicularis and human apoC-III are the same.     

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.     

Ionization behaviour of native apolipoproteins and of their complexes with lecithin. 2. Potentiometric titration of the native apo-A-II, apoC-I, apoC-III proteins and of their complexes with dimyristoyl lecithin.

A comparison of the ionization behaviour of the human apoA-II, apoC-I, apoC-III proteins and of their complexes with dimyristoyl lecithin is based on potentiometric titration of the basic and acidic residues and spectrophotometric titration of the phenolic groups. Experimental data suggest that a number of lysine, arginine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid residues are masked in the complexes. For each of these amino acids and in all three proteins the number of masked residues is consistent with the content of those regions predicted to be involved in lipid binding by the model of Segrest et al. [FEBS Lett. 38, 247-253 (1974)]. These data taken together with the results of calorimetric and titration experiments with the apoA-I protein reported in the accompanying article [Rosseneu et al. (1977) Eur. J. Biochem. 79, 251-257] strongly support the general nature of the proposed model and further suggest that ionic interactions have some role in the formation of the dimyristoyl lecithin/apolipoprotein complexes.     

Raman spectroscopy of the thermal properties of reassembled high-density lipoprotein: apolipoprotein A-I complexes of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine

Isolated complexes of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), the major apoprotein of human plasma high-density lipoproteins, and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) have been prepared and studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Raman spectroscopy. DSC studies establish that complexes having lipid to protein ratios of 200, 100, and 50 to 1 each exhibit a broad reversible thermal transition at Tc = 27 degrees C. The enthalpy of lipid melting for each of the three complexes is about 3 kcal/mol of DMPC. Raman spectroscopy indicates that the physical state of lipid molecules in the complexes is different from that in DMPC multilamellar liposomes. Analysis of the C-H stretching region (2800-3000 cm-1) of the complexes and of the pure components in water suggests that below 24 degrees C (Tc for DMPC) there is considerably less lateral order among lipid acyl chains in the complexes than in DMPC liposomes. Above 24 degrees C, these types of interactions appear to contribute equally or slightly less to the complex structure than in pure DMPC. The temperature dependence of peaks in the C-C stretching region (1000-1180 cm-1) reveals a continuous increase in the number of lipid acyl chain C-C gauche isomers over a broad range with increasing temperature. Compared to liposomes, DMPC in the complexes has more acyl chain trans isomers at temperatures above 24 degrees C; at temperatures above ca. 30 degrees C, trans isomer content is about the same for complexes and liposomes. A large change was observed in a protein vibrational band at 1340 cm-1 for pure vs. complexed apoA-I, indicating that protein hydrocarbon side chains are immobilized by lipid binding. The Raman data indicate that the reduction in melting enthalpy for complexes DMPC (approximately 3 kcal/mol) compared to that for free DMPC (approximately 6 kcal/mol) is due to reduced van der Waals interactions in the low-temperature lipid phase.     

Physical properties of apoprotein B in mixed micelles with sodium deoxycholate and in a vesicle with dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine

Apoprotein B, the major apoprotein of normal human low density lipoprotein (LDL) was solubilized with sodium deoxycholate (NaDC). The protein was recombined with the phospholipid dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) to produce a complex of DMPC-apoB (4:1 w/w). (Biochemistry. 22: 3170-3178. 1983). Carboxyfluorescein and [3H]dextran entrapment studies show the DMPC-apoB 4:1 (w/w) complex to encapsulate an aqueous volume of 0.17 microliter/mumol of DMPC. From the chemistry and morphology of the complex and the evidence that the complex possesses an encapsulated volume, the most appropriate structural model for this assembly is that of a phospholipid single bilayer vesicle into which apoB is incorporated. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and circular dichroic spectroscopy (CD) were used to investigate the physical properties of apoB in the mixed micellar complex with NaDC and in the vesicular DMPC-apoB complex. CD studies of apoB in NaDC mixed micelles show that apoB exhibits a similar secondary structure as apoB of native LDL over the temperature range 5-30 degrees C. Reversible structural changes occur between 30 and 50 degrees C. However, above 50 degrees C, disruption of the micellar particle and endothermic protein unfolding and denaturation occur with a Tmax of 52 degrees C and an enthalpy of 0.22 cal/g apoB, as shown by DSC. The DMPC-apoB complex exhibits a reversible thermal transition centered at 24 degrees C (delta H = 3.34 Kcal/mol DMPC) which is associated with the order-disorder transition of the hydrocarbon chains of DMPC. An endothermic transition occurs over the range 53-70 degrees C (delta H = 2.09 cal/g apoB) which, as shown by CD and turbidity study, corresponds to protein unfolding-denaturation and particle disruption. CD shows that apoB in the vesicular environment undergoes a series of conformational changes. The major alterations occur over the temperature range of the order-disorder transition of the phospholipid. Between 37-60 degrees C, the conformation is similar to that observed in native LDL.     

Local/bulk determinants of conformational stability of exchangeable apolipoproteins

GuHCl-induced denaturation of human plasma apoA-I, apoA-II, apoA-IV, apoE3 and three recombinant apoE isoforms in solution and discoidal complexes with phosphatidylcholine (only plasma proteins) was studied. The protein conformational stability (ΔG(H(2)O)) and a slope of linear dependence of free energy of unfolding on GuHCl concentration (m-value) were estimated with the three equilibrium schemes. The data for all proteins, except apoA-II, fit with the three-state model, thus evidencing two-domain structure. The predicted folding rate of the four apoE in solution correlated with conformational stability. The dependence disappeared at the inclusion of apoA-I and apoA-IV into analysis and the m-values, adjusted for residue number in helices (m(rh)), differed between those for apoE and apoA-I/apoA-IV. However, the m(rh)-values for six proteins correlated positively with the fractional change in accessible surface area at unfolding for Phe, Lys and Asn, while negatively for Arg, Ala and Gly residues. The difference between the adjusted ΔG(rh)(H(2)O) values for apolipoproteins in complexes and in solution decreased at the increase of reduced temperature (T(obs)-T(t))/T(t). The induction of intrinsic disorder by arginine residues may be of primary importance in metabolism and function of exchangeable apolipoproteins, while their stability in nascent discoidal HDL is controlled by the physical state of phosphatidylcholine.     

Displacement of the human apoprotein A-I by the human apoprotein A-II from complexes of (apoprotein A-I)-phosphatidylcholine-cholesterol

Reassembly experiments, involving isolated human apoproteins A-I and A-II and (dimyristoylglycerophosphocholine)-cholesterol vesicles were performed with apoprotein mixtures at apoprotein A-I/A-II molar ratios varying between 0 and 3. The apoproteins were incubated at 24 degrees C. 28 degrees C and 32 degrees C with either pure dimyristoyl-glycerophosphocholine vesicles or with dimyristoylglycerophosphocholine cholesterol vesicles containing 2, 5, 10, 15 mol/100 mol cholesterol. The kinetics of association were followed by measuring the increase of the fluorescence polarization ratio after labeling the lipids with diphenyl hexatriene. The complexes were separated from the free protein by gradient ultracentrifugation. Total protein was assayed and the apoproteins A-I and A-II were quantified separately by immunonephelometry. The content of apoprotein A-I was also monitored by measuring the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence. The results suggest that apoprotein A-II has a greater affinity than apoprotein A-I for the phospholipid-cholesterol vesicles and that apoprotein A-II is able to quantitatively displace apoprotein A-I from the lipid-protein complexes. The content of apoprotein A-II in the complexes increases proportionally to the concentration of apoprotein A-II in the incubation mixture until saturation is reached. At saturation the dimyristoylglycerophosphocholine/apoprotein A-II ratio in the complex is dependent upon the cholesterol content of the original vesicles and increases from 60 to 275 mol/mol between 0 and 15 mol/100 mol cholesterol. From these experiments one can calculate that 1 mol human apoprotein A-I is displaced by 2 mol human apoprotein A-II.     

Interaction of human apolipoprotein A-I with model membranes exhibiting lipid domains

Several mechanisms for cell cholesterol efflux have been proposed, including membrane microsolubilization, suggesting that the existence of specific domains could enhance the transfer of lipids to apolipoproteins. In this work isothermal titration calorimetry, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and two-photon microscopy are used to study the interaction of lipid-free apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) with small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) of 1-palmitoyl, 2-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine (POPC) and sphingomyelin (SM), with and without cholesterol. Below 30 degrees C the calorimetric results show that apoA-I interaction with POPC/SM SUVs produces an exothermic reaction, characterized as nonclassical hydrophobic binding. The heat capacity change (DeltaCp degrees ) is small and positive, whereas it was larger and negative for pure POPC bilayers, in the absence of SM. Inclusion of cholesterol in the membranes induces changes in the observed thermodynamic pattern of binding and counteracts the formation of alpha-helices in the protein. Above 30 degrees C the reactions are endothermic. Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) of identical composition to the SUVs, and two-photon fluorescence microscopy techniques, were utilized to further characterize the interaction. Fluorescence imaging of the GUVs indicates coexistence of lipid domains under 30 degrees C. Binding experiments and Laurdan generalized-polarization measurements suggest that there is no preferential binding of the labeled apoA-I to any particular domain. Changes in the content of alpha-helix, binding, and fluidity data are discussed in the framework of the thermodynamic parameters.     

Dynamic properties of human high density lipoprotein apoproteins.

This study was designed to identify a method for the measurement of human high density lipoprotein subfraction (HDL2 and HDL3) metabolism. Apolipoproteins A-I, A-II, and C, the major HDL apoproteins, were radioiodinated and incorporated individually into HDL2 and HDL3 in vitro. Using a double label technique, the turnover of apoA-I in HDL2 and HDL3 was measured simultaneously in a normal male. The apoprotein exchanged rapidly between the two subfractions, evidenced by equilibration of their apoA-I specific activity. Radiolabeled apoA-II, incorporated into the subfractions, showed a similar exchange in vitro. Incubation of 131I-labeled very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) with HDL or its subfractions resulted in transfer of C proteins from VLDL to the HDL moiety. The extent of transfer was dependent on the HDL subfraction present; 50% of the VLDL apoC was transferred to HDL3, while the transfer to total HDL and HDL2 was 69% and 78%, respectively. ApoC also exchanged between HDL2 and HDL3, again showing a preference for the former and suggesting a primary metabolic relationship between VLDL and HDL2. Overall, the study indicates that apoA-I, apoA-II, and the C proteins exist in equilibrium between HDL2 and HDL3. This phenomenon precludes their use as probes for HDL subfraction metabolism in humans.     

Interaction of apoprotein from porcine high-density lipoprotein with dimyristoyl lecithin. 1. The structure of the complexes.

The morphology and structural organisation of the complexes formed from the apoprotein of porcine high-density lipoprotein and dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) have been studied using the technique of small-angle X-ray scattering. Scattering measurements made in solvents of varying electron density were interpreted in terms of a scattering-equivalent model for the structure of the complex. This model is described by an oblate ellipsoidal morphology with dimensions at 20 degrees C: major axis 11.0 nm, minor axis 5.5 nm. Within this overall shape the lipid hydrocarbon chains are organised in an apolar core whilst the lipid polar head groups and protein are located in a outer shell 0.85 nm in thickness. The oblate morphology demonstrates that the structure of the complex is directed by the fundamental bilayer organisation of the lecithin. The dimension of the minor axis (5.5 nm) indicates that phospholipid hydrocarbon chains are orientated perpendicular to the interface.     

Protective effect of lipoproteins containing apoprotein A-I on Cu2+-catalyzed oxidation of human low density lipoprotein

Two apoprotein A-I (apoA-I)-containing lipoproteins, one containing apoA-I and apoA-II (LpA-I/A-II) and the other containing only apoA-I (LpA-I), were examined for their effect on Cu2+-mediated oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL). The presence of LpA-I or LpA-I/A-II prevented LDL oxidation when assessed by the electrophoretic mobility, apoprotein B fragmentation and amounts of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. The protection of LDL oxidation by these lipoproteins was effective for up to 6 h, with LpA-I being more active than LpA-I/A-II. Results from these in vitro model experiments raise a possibility that LpA-I may play a role in protecting LDL from Cu2+-mediated oxidation.     

Effect of streptolysin S on liposomes. Influence of membrane lipid composition on toxin action

The effect of the bacterial cytolytic toxin, streptolysin S, on liposomes composed of various phospholipids was investigated. Large unilamellar vesicles containing [14C]sucrose were prepared by reverse-phase evaporation, and membrane damage produced by the toxin was measured by following the release of labeled marker. The net charge of the liposomes had little or no effect on their susceptibility to steptolysin S and the toxin was about equally effective on liposomes composed of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylglycerol. Experiments with liposomes composed of synthetic phospholipids showed that the ability of the toxin to produce membrane damage depended on the degree of unsaturation of the fatty acyl chains. The order of sensitivity was C18 : 2 phosphatidylcholine greater than C18: I phosphatidylcholine greater than C18 : 0 phosphatidylcholine = C16 : 0 phosphatidylcholine. Liposomes containing the latter two phospholipids were virtually unaffected by streptolysin S, and experiments with C18 : 0 phosphatidylcholine suggested that toxin activity does not bind to liposomes composed of phospholipids with saturated fatty acyl chains. The inclusion of 40 mol% cholesterol in C16 : 0 phosphatidylcholine and C18 : 0 phosphatidylcholine liposomes made these vesicles sensitive to streptolysin S. Egg phosphatidylcholine liposomes, which were unaffected at 0 degrees C and 4 degrees C became susceptible to the toxin at these temperatures when cholesterol was included. Liposomes composed of C14 : 0 phosphatidylcholine were unaffected by streptolysin S at temperatures below the chain-melting transition temperature (23 degrees C) of this phospholipid, but became increasingly susceptible above this temperature. The results suggest that the fluidity of the phospholipid hydrocarbon chains in the membrane is important in streptolysin S action.     

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.     

Apolipoproteins C-I, C-II, and C-III: kinetics of association with model membranes and intermembrane transfer

The apoproteins (apo) C-I, C-II, and C-III are low molecular weight amphiphilic proteins that are associated with the lipid surface of the plasma chylomicron, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subfractions. Purified apoC-I spontaneously reassociates with VLDL, HDL, and single-bilayer vesicles (SBV) of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. ApoC-I also transfers reversibly from VLDL to HDL and from VLDL and HDL to SBV. The kinetics of association of the individual apoC proteins with SBV are second order overall and first order with respect to lipid and protein concentrations. At 37 degrees C, the rates of association were 2.5 x 10(10), 4.0 x 10(10) and 3.8 x 10(10) M-1 s-1 for apoC-I, apoC-II, and apoC-III, respectively. Arrhenius plots of association rate vs temperature were linear and yielded activation energies of 11.0 (apoC-I), 9.0 (apoC-II), and 10.6 kcal/mol (apoC-III). The kinetics of vesicle to vesicle apoprotein transfer are biexponential for intermembrane transfer, indicating two concurrent transfer processes. Rate constants at 37 degrees C for the fast component of dissociation were 11.7, 9.5, and 9.9 s-1, while rate constants for the slow component were 1.3, 0.6, and 0.9 s-1 for apoC-I, apoC-II, and apoC-III, respectively. The dissociation constants, Kd, of apoC-I, apoC-II, and apoC-III bound to the surface monolayer of phospholipid-coated latex beads were 0.5, 1.4, and 0.5 microM, respectively. These studies show that the apoC proteins are in dynamic equilibrium among phospholipid surfaces on a time scale that is rapid compared to lipolysis, lipid transfer, and lipoprotein turnover.