Lipoprotein A-I structure.
High density lipoproteins are produced by the liver as protein-lipid complexes with a characteristic discoidal shape. A crystal structure is available for the chief protein component of these complexes, apolipoprotein A-I, but controversy about how this protein is situated with respect to the lipid components has flourished for lack of experimental techniques that can characterize protein structure in a lipid environment. New spectroscopic techniques developed to address this problem now indicate that apolipoprotein A-I is arranged as a helical belt around a bilayer of phospholipids. This is an important step towards understanding how these lipoproteins regulate cholesterol transport.
Koppaka
V
V
Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104-6084, USA.
Axelsen
P H
PH
D000818:Animals; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003461:Crystallography; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I