Abnormalities in lipoproteins of d < 1.006 g/ml in familial lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency

Optimized negative-staining electron microscopy for lipoprotein studies

BACKGROUND

Negative-staining (NS), a rapid, simple and conventional technique of electron microscopy (EM), has been commonly used to initially study the morphology and structure of proteins for half a century. Certain NS protocols however can cause artifacts, especially for structurally flexible or lipid-related proteins, such as lipoproteins. Lipoproteins were often observed in the form of rouleau as lipoprotein particles appeared to be stacked together by conventional NS protocols. The flexible components of lipoproteins, i.e. lipids and amphipathic apolipoproteins, resulted in the lipoprotein structure being sensitive to the NS sample preparation parameters, such as operational procedures, salt concentrations, and the staining reagents.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

The most popular NS protocols that have been used to examine lipoprotein morphology and structure were reviewed.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

The comparisons show that an optimized NS (OpNS) protocol can eliminate the rouleau artifacts of lipoproteins, and that the lipoproteins are similar in size and shape as statistically measured from two EM methods, OpNS and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). OpNS is a high-throughput, high-contrast and high-resolution (near 1nm, but rarely better than 1nm) method which has been used to discover the mechanics of a small protein, 53kDa cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP), and the structure of an individual particle of a single protein by individual-particle electron tomography (IPET), i.e. a 14Å-resolution IgG antibody three-dimensional map.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

It is suggested that OpNS can be used as a general protocol to study the structure of proteins, especially highly dynamic proteins with equilibrium-fluctuating structures.

Very-low-density lipoprotein of uremic patients is a poor substrate for bovine lipoprotein lipase in vitro

Very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) from 10 hemodialysis patients and 10 healthy controls was studied with respect to the substrate characteristics for bovine milk lipoprotein lipase (LPL). Compared with the control subjects, the hemodialysis patients had significantly higher serum triglyceride and apolipoprotein B-associated apolipoprotein CIII concentrations (1.03 +/- 0.31 v 1.98 +/- 0.86 mmol/L and 0.004 +/- 0.002 v 0.011 +/- 0.005 g/L, respectively), lower serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein AI concentrations (1.33 +/- 0.37 v 0.95 +/- 0.31 mmol/L and 1.29 +/- 0.25 v 1.09 +/- 0.23 g/L, respectively), and lower postheparin plasma LPL activity (82 +/- 24 v 35 +/- 14 milliU/milliL). There were also significant increases in the relative fat content and diameter of VLDL particles from patients versus controls. VLDL was labeled with a fluorescent phospholipid analog, DHPE, and the rate of the lipolytic reaction with purified bovine milk LPL was estimated from the increase in fluorescence intensity at 490 nm. There was no significant difference between initial reaction velocities in the study groups, but VLDL particles from hemodialysis patients were lipolyzed to a significantly lesser extent than those from healthy controls (mean increase in fluorescence intensity after completion of the reaction, 95 +/- 36 v 140 +/- 43 arbitrary units). These results are in accordance with the accumulation of remnant particles reported to occur in uremia despite only a moderately increased serum triglyceride concentration.

Novel apoprotein A-I-containing lipoprotein produced by a human hepatoma-derived cell line HuH-7

The apoprotein A-I (apo A-I)-containing lipoprotein (LPHuH-7apoA-I) was isolated from the concentrated conditioned medium of human hepatoma-derived cell line HuH-7 by immunoaffinity chromatography. LpHuH-7apoA-I consists of two kinds of lipoproteins. One is a lipoprotein of large particle size (LpL) with broad electrophoretic mobility on agarose gel ranging from the origin to the position of prebeta-lipoprotein. LpL is protein-rich in composition (protein, 75.4% by weight) and is heterogeneous in size (34-17 nm in diameter) electron microscopically. However, the most intriguing properties of LpL are its partial electrophoretic mobility towards the cathode on agar gel. The other lipoprotein is of small particle size (LpS). It demonstrates prebeta-electrophoretic mobility on agarose gel. LpS is also protein-rich in composition (protein, 95.4% by weight) and is heterogeneous in size (16.5-8.4 nm in diameter) electron microscopically. LpL is obviously different from LP-X and LP-Y in property, although LP-X, LP-Y and a part of LpL migrate towards the cathode on agar gel electrophoresis. LpS is also different from human apo A-I-containing lipoprotein without apo A-II in property, although these two lipoproteins possess the same mobility on agarose gel electrophoresis. These results indicate that both LpL and LpS are novel lipoproteins which have not yet been reported. The major isoproteins of the apo A-I of LpHuH-7apoA-I are apo A-I isoprotein 2 (apo A-I2), apo A-I isoprotein 4 (apo A-I4) and apo A-I isoprotein 5 (apo A-I5), and are different from those of apo A-I in human plasma and in the conditioned medium of hepatoma-derived cell line HepG2. This result suggests the presence of a proteinase which converts proapoprotein A-I (apo A-I2) to apoprotein A-I (apo A-I4) in the conditioned medium of HuH-7.

Electron microscopic structure of serum lipoproteins from patients with fish eye disease

The structure and composition of lipoprotein fractions from two patients with fish eye disease were examined. The composition of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) was normal, although total mass was greatly elevated. The mean particle sizes of the VLDL were 44.6 +/- 22.2 and 42.8 +/- 19.8 nm for Patients 1 and 2, respectively. Intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL) concentrations in patients were elevated and contained increased triglyceride content; particle sizes for Patients 1 and 2 were 29.4 +/- 3.5 nm and 28.0 +/- 4.1 nm, respectively. In both patients, the triglyceride/cholesteryl ester ratio in LDL was approximately tenfold higher than in normal individuals; however, the LDL particles were somewhat smaller in diameter (23.5 +/- 3.0 nm for Patient 1 and 23.3 +/- 3.8 nm for Patient 2) than those of controls (25.8 +/- 3.0 nm and 24.9 +/- 3.4 nm). In both patients, large vesicular structures were occasionally encountered in the LDL region. The high density lipoprotein (HDL) fraction of fish eye disease patients showed the greatest abnormalities. Not only was the total HDL concentration extremely low (approximately 10% of control levels), but unesterified cholesterol was increased relative to cholesteryl ester. Particle morphology was heterogeneous; the major HDL species was a small spherical particle with a diameter of 7.6 nm. Discoidal particles with a thickness of 4.4 nm and diameters between 17.4 and 20.8 nm were also present, together with large (40-90 nm) vesicles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Apolipoprotein and size heterogeneity in human umbilical cord blood low density lipoproteins

Neonatal umbilical cord blood plasma low density lipoproteins (LDL, d = 1.019-1.063 g/ml) were subfractionated by density gradient ultracentrifugation into seven fractions (from 1.024 to 1.062 g/ml); the bulk of the LDL mass was in a density region of 1.034-1.042 g/ml. Apolipoprotein B by 10% SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis varied inversely with density, with only trace amounts present in the most dense fraction. The distribution of apolipoprotein B molecular weight forms was assessed by both 3% SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and relative aminoacyl mass determination. Lower molecular weight forms of apolipoprotein B (B74 and B26) increased relative to apolipoprotein B100 with increasing density, ranging from undetectable in fraction 1 to apolipoproteins B26 and B74 comprising 30% of the total mass of apolipoprotein B in fraction 6. No apolipoprotein B48 was detectable in the LDL. Apolipoprotein E as determined by both SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and radioimmunoassay increased with density with a maximum (14% of the protein) in the most dense fraction, fraction 7. Apolipoprotein A-I by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis increased with increasing density and was the major apolipoprotein in fraction 7. Electron microscopic analysis revealed spherical particles whose diameters decreased with increasing density, ranging from 28.6 nm in the top fraction (fraction 1) to 15.6 nm in the bottom fraction (fraction 7). Gradient gel electrophoresis revealed that most of the fractions contained several different sized particles. The bottom fraction (fraction 7), enriched in apolipoproteins E and A-I, had a unique, poorly defined peak at 14.6 nm on gradient gel electrophoresis and showed a tendency to pack hexagonally upon electron microscopy. The unusual composition and apolipoprotein distribution in neonatal LDL fractions suggests that the LDL in the neonate are metabolically very diverse.

Lecithin: cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT)

Esterification of cholesterol in plasma is mediated by LCAT. The mechanism of the three reactions catalysed by the enzyme is beginning to be understood. LCAT has been purified from human plasma and partially characterized. The enzyme is closely associated with HDL and exists most likely as a complex with its activator apo A-I and apo D. Antibodies were raised against LCAT and the enzyme concentration in plasma has been estimated to range between 4.5 and 8.0 mg/L. In patients with familial LCAT deficiency only trace amounts or no LCAT protein is found. Heterozygotes for this disorder have approximately half the normal amount of the enzyme. LCAT reactivity is essential for normal lipoprotein metabolism and for a proper equilibrium between tissue and plasma cholesterol.

Neonatal umbilical cord blood lipoproteins. Isolation and characterization of intermediate density and low density lipoproteins

Intermediate density lipoproteins (IDL) (d = 1.006 to 1.019 g/ml) and low density lipoproteins (LDL) (d = 1.019 to 1.063 g/ml) were isolated from human umbilical cord blood plasma by sequential ultracentrifugation. The concentration, chemical and apolipoprotein composition, size and size distribution of the neonatal IDL and LDL for both sexes were determined. The IDL and LDL from the neonates showed no sex-related differences in composition or concentration. The IDL and LDL were lower in concentration and differed in composition of concentration. The IDL and LDL were lower in concentration and differed in composition with regard to each other and with regard to the comparable adult fractions. The apolipoprotein (apo) composition showed only the high molecular weight form of apo B present in the IDL, while the LDL showed the presence of two lower molecular weight forms of apo B in addition to the high molecular weight form, along with appreciable amounts of apo E and apo A-l. The size distribution of the neonatal IDL and LDL showed a constant pattern, with peaks at approximately 300 A for IDL and 257 and 244 A for neonatal LDL. The alterations in composition, size and size distribution, as well as the lower concentrations present in neonate, point to differences between the neonate and the adult in the metabolism of lipoproteins with a density of 1.006 to 1.063 g/ml.

Studies of the interaction between apolipoproteins A and C and triacylglycerol-rich particles

We studied the interaction of apolipoproteins A-I, C, and HDL2 with phospholipid-stabilized, triacylglycerol-rich particles to learn more about the molecular mechanisms that underlie the metabolism of chylomicrons. Apolipoproteins A-I, C-I, C-III1 and C-III2 all bound to and destabilized triacylglycerol-rich particles, apparently by removing phospholipids from the particle surface. None of the apolipoprotein C tested, at any concentration, was, however, able to equal the disruptive effect of apolipoprotein A-I. The destabilizing effects of apolipoproteins A-I and C were not additive. Apolipoprotein C-III1 seemed to lessen the disruptive effect of apolipoprotein A-I by binding competitively to triacylglycerol-rich particles. Unexpectedly, previous binding of apolipoprotein A-I to triacylglycerol-rich particles nearly tripled the ability of these particles to bind apolipoprotein C. Destabilization of triacylglycerol-rich particles by apolipoprotein A-I was prevented by HDL2. The protective effect of HDL2 seemed to depend partly on transfer of unesterified cholesterol from HDL2, since the amounts of unesterified cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I bound to the particles surface showed a strong negative correlation.