title: Apolipoprotein M associates to lipoproteins through its retained signal peptide.
abstract: Apolipoprotein M (apoM) is predominantly associated with HDL. In this study, it was investigated whether apoM's uncleaved signal peptide is necessary for the protein's ability to associate with lipoproteins. ApoM with a cleavable signal peptide, Q22A, was expressed, together with wild-type apoM, in HEK293 cells. On size-exclusion chromatography, the elution profile of wild-type apoM was similar to that of human HDL-associated plasma apoM. In contrast, the size of the Q22A mutant corresponded to free, unassociated apoM. This strongly indicates that the signal peptide is indeed necessary for apoM's ability to associate with lipid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Chemistry, Lund University, University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Olof
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Axler
authors.forename: Josefin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahnström
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dahlbäck
mesh_terms: D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000075243:Apolipoproteins M; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D003470:Culture Media; D006801:Humans; D054834:Lipocalins; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: C400523:APOM protein, human; D001053:Apolipoproteins; D000075243:Apolipoproteins M; D003470:Culture Media; D054834:Lipocalins; D008074:Lipoproteins; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals