title: A detailed molecular belt model for apolipoprotein A-I in discoidal high density lipoprotein.
abstract: Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) is the principal protein of high density lipoprotein particles (HDL). ApoA-I contains a globular N-terminal domain (residues 1-43) and a lipid-binding C-terminal domain (residues 44-243). Here we propose a detailed model for the smallest discoidal HDL, consisting of two apoA-I molecules wrapped beltwise around a small patch of bilayer containing 160 lipid molecules. The C-terminal domain of each monomer is ringlike, a curved, planar amphipathic alpha helix with an average of 3.67 residues per turn, and with the hydrophobic surface curved toward the lipids. We have explored all possible geometries for forming the dimer of stacked rings, subject to the hypothesis that the optimal geometry will maximize intermolecular salt bridge interactions. The resulting model is an antiparallel arrangement with an alignment matching that of the (nonplanar) crystal structure of lipid-free apoA-I.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Alabama Birmingham Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA. segrest@uab.edu
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Segrest
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Klon
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Sheldahl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hellinger
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: De Loof
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Harvey
mesh_terms: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000737:chemistry*; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; C034366:discoidal lipoproteins