RESUMEN
Two subfractions of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) were isolated from normal pig (Sus domesticus) serum by a combined method including precipitation, ultracentrifugation, and gel chromatography. The fractions recovered from the buoyant density ranges 1.020-1.050 and 1.050-1.090 g/mL, denoted as LDL1 and LDL2, respectively, were studied with regard to structure and thermotropic behavior by X-ray small-angle scattering and were compared to human serum low-density lipoprotein of density 1.020-1.063 g/mL. The average molecular weights determined from the scattering intensities on absolute scale were 2.6 X 10(6) and 2.0 X 10(6) for LDL1 and LDL2, respectively. The maximum particle diameters were found to be 24 and 21 nm, respectively. Both species were found to have quasi-spherical symmetry and to display the thermotropic transition of the apolar lipids within the particle core similar to human LDL. The width of the transition was approximately 9 degrees C in both cases, but the midpoint transition temperature was higher by 8 degrees C for LDL1 (33 degrees C) than for LDL2 (25 degrees C). Despite their different sizes and thermotropic behavior, the two porcine LDL subfractions appear to be built according to the same structural principle as human LDL in the molecular organization of the apolar lipids within the particle core.
Asunto(s)
Lipoproteínas LDL/sangre , Animales , Colesterol/sangre , Humanos , Fosfolípidos/sangre , Conformación Proteica , Especificidad de la Especie , Porcinos , Triglicéridos/sangre , Difracción de Rayos XRESUMEN
1. Different lipoprotein density fractions from pig serum were isolated by phosphotungstate precipitation followed by purification in the preparative ultra-centrifuge. 2. The protein part of very low density lipoproteins was composed of approximately 52 percent lipoprotein B apoprotein and the rest of lipoprotein C II apoprotein and other as yet unidentified peptides. 3. The protein moiety of low density lipoproteins consisted primarily of lipoprotein B apoprotein (over 95 percent); the amino acid compositions of lipoprotein B apoprotein of very low and low density lipoproteins were practically identical. 4. The predominant polypeptide of pig serum high density lipoproteins exhibited an amino acid composition and a molecular weight very similar to human liprotein A I apoprotein. In contrast to human lipoprotein A I apoprotein, the apoprotein from pigs was found to release leucine first followed by alanine, threonine, and lysine upon incubation with carboxypeptidase A. 5. In pig serum the major lipoprotein C apoprotein was found to be a polypeptide similar in amino acid composition to lipoprotein C II apoprotein from human serum. The molecular weight of this polypeptide is approximately 8000. Incubation experiments with carboxypeptidase A indicate serine to be the most likely C-terminal amino acid.