title: Distribution of apolipoprotein E between free and A-II complexed forms in very-low- and high-density lipoproteins: functional implications.
abstract: The stability of apolipoprotein E/lipoprotein associations has been examined as a function of apolipoprotein E phenotype. Visualisation by immunoblotting showed plasma apolipoprotein E to be present in two forms; the free form and, as previously described, an E-A-II complex. In very low density lipoproteins isolated by gel filtration from subjects with E3/3 and E4/3 phenotypes, apolipoprotein E was present essentially in the free form (ratio free: complex of 12.2 and 37.5, respectively). Exploiting ultracentrifugation as the disruptive agent, very-low-density lipoproteins thus isolated were shown to have substantially lower ratios (5.6 and 5.4, respectively) reflecting preferential loss of free apolipoprotein E. In high-density lipoproteins isolated by gel filtration from E3/3 phenotypes, apolipoprotein E was largely present as an E-A-II complex (80.3%). In contrast, the majority of apolipoprotein E in high-density lipoproteins from E4/3 phenotypes was present in the free form (58.7%). In both phenotypes, the content of free apolipoprotein E was markedly reduced by ultracentrifugation. The results confirm the notion that the formation of the E-A-II complex is a major determinant of the stability of apolipoprotein E-high-density lipoprotein associations. Moreover, that the predominant, ancestral isoform, apolipoprotein E3, exists largely as an E-A-II complex in higher density lipoproteins has important functional implications for this plasma source of apolipoprotein E.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Borghini
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Blatter
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pometta
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016633:Apolipoprotein A-II; D001054:Apolipoproteins A / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D010641:Phenotype; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016633:Apolipoprotein A-II; D001054:Apolipoproteins A; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL