Surface Tensiometry of Apolipoprotein B Domains at Lipid Interfaces Suggests a New Model for the Initial Steps in Triglyceride-rich Lipoprotein Assembly

Apolipoprotein B (apoB) is the principal protein component of triacylglyceride (TAG)-rich lipoproteins, including chylomicrons and very low density lipoprotein, which is the precursor to LDL (the “bad cholesterol”). TAG-rich lipoprotein assembly is initiated by the N-terminal βα1 superdomain of apoB, which co-translationally binds and remodels the luminal leaflet of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. The βα1 superdomain contains four domains and is predicted to interact directly with lipids. Using drop tensiometry, we examined the interfacial properties of the α-helical and C-sheet domains and several subdomains to establish a detailed structure-function relationship at the lipid/water interface. The adsorption, stress response, exchangeability, and pressure (Π)-area relationship were studied at both triolein/water and triolein/1-palmitoyl, 2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine/water interfaces that mimic physiological environments. The α-helical domain spontaneously adsorbed to a triolein/water interface and formed a viscoelastic surface. It was anchored to the surface by helix 6, and the other helices were ejected and/or remodeled on the surface as a function of surface pressure. The C-sheet instead formed an elastic film on a triolein/water interface and was irreversibly anchored to the lipid surface, which is consistent with the behavior of amphipathic β-strands. When both domains were adsorbed together on the surface, the C-sheet shielded a portion of the α-helical domain from the surface, which retained its globular structure. Overall, the unique secondary and tertiary structures of the N-terminal domains of apoB support the intrinsic capability of co-translational lipid recruitment. The evidence presented here allows the construction of a detailed model of the initiation of TAG-rich lipoprotein assembly.     

用酵母双杂交系统研究载脂蛋白AI(apoAI)和清道夫受体BI(SR-BI)间的相互作用

目的:利用酵母双杂交系统验证在胆固醇逆转运过程中起关键作用的大鼠载脂蛋白AI(apoAI)和清道夫受体BI-(SR-BI)间存在着相互作用,为初步筛选具有降脂活性组分提供1对新的靶点。方法:首先分别克隆了Wistar大鼠的apoAI和SR-BI基因的cDNA,并构建了酵母表达载体,利用共转化技术观察到apoAI和SR-BI间存在着相互作用,并在酵母交配实验中证实了这个结果。结果:经共转化后的实验组与阳性对照组可在SD/-Leu/-Trp/-His/-Ade/X-α-Gal平板上生长且菌斑呈蓝色,经测定α、β半乳糖苷酶活力可知酶活分别为8～12U和10～40U。酵母交配后的二倍体实验组、阳性对照组可在SD/-Leu/-Trp/-His/-Ade/X-α-Gal平板上生长且菌斑呈蓝色。结论:apoAI和SRBI间的确存在相互作用。     

Plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activity modifies the inverse relationship of C-reactive protein with HDL cholesterol in nondiabetic men

Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) is instrumental in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) maturation, but high LCAT levels do not predict low cardiovascular risk. LCAT may affect antioxidative or anti-inflammatory properties of HDL. We determined the relationship of plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) with LCAT activity and evaluated whether LCAT activity modifies the decreasing effect of HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) on CRP, as an estimate of its anti-inflammatory properties. Plasma HDL-C, apolipoprotein (apo) A-I and LCAT activity (exogenous substrate method) were measured in 260 nondiabetic men without cardiovascular disease. CRP was correlated inversely with HDL-C and apo A-I, and positively with LCAT activity (P < 0.01 to 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that age- and smoking-adjusted plasma CRP levels were associated negatively with HDL-C (β = − 0.224, P < 0.001) and positively with LCAT activity (β = 0.119, P = 0.034), as well as with the interaction between HDL-C and LCAT activity (β = 0.123, P = 0.026). There was also an interaction between apo A-I and LCAT activity on CRP (β = 0.159, P = 0.005). These relationships remained similar after adjustment for apo B-containing lipoproteins. In conclusion, the inverse relationship of HDL-C with CRP is attenuated by LCAT activity at higher HDL-C levels. It is hypothesized that LCAT could mitigate HDL's anti-inflammatory or antioxidative properties at higher HDL-C concentrations.     

Implication of apoE isoforms in cholesterol metabolism by primary rat hippocampal neurons and astrocytes

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) has been genetically linked to late-onset Alzheimer's disease. From the three common alleles (epsilon2, epsilon3 and epsilon4), epsilon4 has been suggested to promote amyloid beta (Ass) plaque fibrillation, one hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. It has been demonstrated that altered lipid content of hippocampal plasma membrane coincides with the disease. In this study, we show for the first time that the apoE dependent cholesterol metabolism in hippocampal neurons is higher than that of hippocampal astrocytes. Further, apoE-bound cholesterol is highly incorporated in membranous compartments in hippocampal neurons, whereas hippocampal astrocytes show higher intracellular distribution. This is an effect that coincides with cell-type dependent difference of low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) family member expression. Hippocampal neurons express high levels of the LDLR related protein (LRP), whereas hippocampal astrocytes are highly positive for LDLR. We could also demonstrate an apoE isoform (apoE2, apoE3 and apoE4) dependent cholesterol uptake in both cells types. In hippocampal neurons, we could find a decreased apoE4-bound cholesterol uptake. In contrast, hippocampal astrocytes show decreased internalization of apoE2-bound cholesterol. In addition, lipidated apoE4 is little associated with neurites in hippocampal neurons in comparison to the other two isoforms. In contrary, hippocampal astrocytes show faint apoE2 immunocytostaining intensity. Data presented indicate that the role of apoE4 in cholesterol homeostasis and apolipoprotein cell association is more pronounced in hippocampal neurons, showing significant alterations compared to the other two isoforms, suggesting that hippocampal neurons are affected by apoE4 associated altered cholesterol metabolism compared to hippocampal astrocytes.     

Lipid droplet proteins and metabolic diseases

Lipid droplets (LDs) are ubiquitous cellular organelles for lipid storage which are composed of a neutral lipid core bounded by a protein decorated phospholipid monolayer. Although lipid storage is their most obvious function, LDs are far from inert as they participate in maintaining lipid homeostasis through lipid synthesis, metabolism, and transportation. Furthermore, they are involved in cell signaling and other molecular events closely associated with human disease such as dyslipidemia, obesity, lipodystrophy, diabetes, fatty liver, atherosclerosis, and others. The last decade has seen a great increase in the attention paid to LD biology. Regardless, many fundamental features of LD biology remain obscure. In this review, we will discuss key aspects of LD biology including their biogenesis, growth and regression. We will also summarize the current knowledge about the role LDs play in human disease, especially from the perspective of the dynamics of the associated proteins. This article is part of a Special issue entitled Cardiac adaptations to obesity, diabetes and insulin resistance, edited by Professors Jan F.C. Glatz, Jason R.B. Dyck and Christine Des Rosiers.     

人载脂蛋白C3基因转基因小鼠的建立及血脂变化分析

目的制备系统性表达人载脂蛋白C3（APOC3）基因的转基因小鼠,建立高血脂小鼠模型。方法将人APOC3基因插入系统性表达启动子下游,构建转基因表达载体,通过显微注射法建立人APOC3转基因C57BL/6J小鼠。并利用特异引物PCR法鉴定转基因小鼠的基因型,Western blot检测基因表达水平,血生化分析检测不同月龄转基因小鼠与同龄野生型小鼠的血脂指标,脂肪染色观察肝脏脂肪水平。结果建立了高表达人APOC3基因的转基因小鼠品系;转入的人APOC3基因在血液、肝脏、小肠、肌肉、心脏、肾脏、脾脏中均有明显表达;不同月龄转基因小鼠的血浆甘油三酯水平明显高于同龄野生型小鼠;转基因小鼠的肝脏脂肪含量高于野生型小鼠。结论系统性表达人APOC3基因的转基因小鼠表现高脂血症表型,可以作为高血脂以及高血脂相关的心血管病的工具动物。     

脱脂蛋白模型多肽与脂质体相互作用的高效液相色谱研究

应用凝胶过滤高效液相色谱,测定了两个两亲性多肽Ａｍｐ１和Ａｍｐ２进入磷脂酰甘油／磷脂酰胆碱脂双层的表观分配常数,并利用三硝基苯磺酸分析研究了与脂质体结合的多肽的氨基暴露状况。由结果推测,处于膜结合状态的多肽的氨基端是暴露于水相的;Ａｍｐ１与脂双层相互作用强于Ａｍｐ２,一方面表现为Ａｍｐ１比Ａｍｐ２埋膜较深,另一方面表现为Ａｍｐ１与脂双层的结合能力比Ａｍｐ２强,而主要表现在于后者。此外也发现两个多肽在缓冲液中处于几乎不存在暴露的氨基的聚合状态。     

APOE4通过Calpain/p35-p25/Cdk5增加tau蛋白磷酸化

摘要 目的：探究载脂蛋白APOE4对小鼠海马组织中tau蛋白磷酸化的作用。方法：采用6月龄人载脂蛋白APOE3,APOE4转基因纯合小鼠,用Western Blot检测小鼠海马组织中tau蛋白的磷酸化程度及Calpain蛋白、p35/25、CDK5等蛋白表达水平。使用脑立体定位术向小鼠侧脑室注射Ca²⁺螯合剂EGTA或二甲基亚砜DMSO两次,给药时间间隔4小时,第二次给药结束后两小时内处死小鼠。检测海马中Calpain蛋白、CDK5、p35/25及tau蛋白的磷酸化的变化情况。结果：①与野生型小鼠和APOE3-TR小鼠相比,APOE4-TR小鼠海马中tau蛋白在Ser396,Thr181及Thr231位点的磷酸化均显著性增高,同时Calpain2、p35/25和CDK5的表达水平也增加。②使用Ca²⁺螯合剂EGTA后,与对照DMSO给药组相比,Ca²⁺螯合剂EGTA给药组小鼠海马组织中tau蛋白在Ser396位的磷酸化显著下降,但未检测到tau蛋白在Thr181及Thr231位点的磷酸发生显著性变化,同时Calpain 2蛋白、p35/25和CDK5的表达水平降低。结论：人载脂蛋白APOE4引起小鼠海马tau蛋白磷酸化异常增高,并且可能是通过Calpain/p35-p25/CDK5信号通路调控tau蛋白Ser396位点磷酸化。     

Increased oxidazability of plasma low density lipoprotein from patients with coronary artery disease

Oxidative modification of lipoproteins may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. This study was designed to examine whether increased lipid peroxides and/or oxidative susceptibility of plasma lipoproteins occur in patients with coronary artery disease. The levels of lipid peroxides, estimated as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), were significantly greater in the plasma and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) of symptomatic patients with coronary artery disease than in those of healthy persons, but the TBARS levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) showed insignificant difference between patients and normals. To evaluate the oxidative susceptibility of lipoproteins, we employed in vitro Cu²⁺ oxidation of lipoproteins monitored by changes in fluorescenece, TBARS level, trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) reactivity, apolipoprotein immunoreactivity and agarose gel electrophoretic mobility. While VLDL and LDL of normal controls were oxidazed at 5–10 μM Cu²⁺, pooled VLDL and LDL of patients with coronary artery disease were oxidized at 1–2.5 μM Cu²⁺, i.e., at relatively lowver oxidative stress. At 5 μM Cu²⁺, VLDL and LDL of patients with coronary artery disease still showed at faster oxidation rate, judged by the rate of fluorescence increase, higher TBARS level, less TNBS reactivity, greater change in apo B immunoreactivity and higher electrophoretic mobility than those of normal controls. However, the difference on the oxidizability of HDL was insignificant for patients vs. normals. In conclusion, we have shown that plasm VLDL and LDL of patients with coronary artery disease are more susceptible to in vitro oxidative modification than those of health persons. The data suggest that enhanced oxidizability of plasma lipoproteins may be important factor influencing the development of coronary artery disease.     

Insulin decreases the secretion of apoB-100 from hepatic HepG2 cells but does not decrease the secretion of apoB-48 from intestinal CaCo-2 cells

We compared the acute effect of insulin on the human colonic intestinal epithelial cell line CaCo-2 and the transformed human hepatic cell line HepG2. Over 24 h, 100 nM and 10 µM insulin significantly inhibited the secretion of apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 from HepG2 cells to 63 and 49% of control, respectively. Insulin had no effect on the secretion of apoB-48 from CaCo-2 cells. There was no effect of insulin on the cholesterol ester or free cholesterol concentrations in HepG2 or CaCo-2 cells. HepG2 and CaCo-2 cells bound insulin with high affinity, leading to similar stimulation of insulin receptor protein tyrosine kinase activation. Protein kinase C or mitogen-activated protein kinase activity in the presence or absence of insulin was not correlated with apoB-48 production in CaCo-2 cells. Therefore, insulin acutely decreases the secretion of apoB-100 in hepatic HepG2 cells, but does not acutely modulate the production or secretion of apoB-48 from CaCo-2 intestinal cells.