Low Density Lipoproteins as Circulating Fast Temperature Sensors

Biochemistry, 2007

Very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) are metabolic precursors of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Human VLDL are heterogeneous complexes containing triacylglyceride-rich apolar lipid core and polar surface comprised of phospholipids, a nonexchangeable apolipoprotein B, and exchangeable apolipoproteins E and Cs. We report the first stability study of VLDL. Circular dichroism and turbidity data reveal an irreversible heat-induced VLDL transition that involves formation of larger particles and repacking of apolar lipids but no global protein unfolding. Heating rate effect on the melting temperature indicates a kinetically controlled reaction with high activation energy, E a. Arrhenius analysis of the turbidity data reveals two kinetic phases with E a =53±7 kcal/mol that correspond to distinct morphological transitions observed by electron microscopy. One transition involves VLDL fusion, partial rupture and dissociation of small spherical particles (d=7-15 nm), and another involves complete lipoprotein disintegration and lipid coalescence into droplets accompanied by dissociation of apolipoprotein B. The small particles, which are unique to VLDL denaturation, are comparable in size and density to high-density lipoproteins (HDL); they have apolar lipid core and polar surface comprised of exchangeable apolipoproteins (E and possibly Cs) and phospholipids. We conclude that, similar to HDL and LDL, VLDL are stabilized by kinetic barriers that prevent particle fusion and rupture and decelerate spontaneous inter-conversion among lipoprotein classes and subclasses. In addition to fusion, VLDL disruption involves transient formation of HDL-like particles that may mimic protein exchange among VLDL and HDL pools in plasma. Plasma lipoproteins, including high-, low-, intermediate-, and very-low density lipoproteins (HDL, LDL, IDL and VLDL), are macromolecular complexes of lipids and proteins (termed apolipoproteins) that mediate lipid transport and metabolism and are central in the development of coronary artery disease. HDL are anti-atherogenic, LDL are pro-atherogenic, and VLDL are not only direct metabolic precursors of LDL but also an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis (1-8). VLDL are the major carriers of triacylglycerides (TG) in plasma. Human VLDL form heterogeneous population of spherical particles that contain apolar core comprised mainly of TG and cholesterol esters (CE) and polar surface comprised of cholesterol-containing phospholipid monolayer and proteins. The proteins include one copy of non-exchangeable apolipoprotein B (apoB, 550 kD) and multiple copies of exchangeable apolipoproteins, mainly apoE (34 kD) and apoCs (6-9 kD), that comprise over 50% of the total VLDL protein content. Metabolic remodeling by lipolytic enzymes converts VLDL into LDL that contain apoB as their sole protein, while the dissociated apoE and apoCs enter the HDL pool (2,4). Structural

Lipoproteins - Role in Health and Diseases, 2012

Cu radiolabelled nanodiscs based on the 11 α-helix MSP1E3D1 protein and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine lipids were, for the first time, followed in vivo by positron emission tomography for evaluating the biodistribution of nanodiscs. A cancer tumor bearing mouse model was used for the investigations, and it was found that the approximately 13 nm nanodiscs, due to their size, permeate deeply into cancer tissue. This makes them promising candidates for both drug delivery purposes and as advanced imaging agents. For the radiolabelling, a simple approach for 64 Cu radiolabelling of proteins via a chelating agent, DOTA, was developed. The reaction was performed at sufficiently mild conditions to be compatible with labelling of the protein part of a lipid-protein particle while fully conserving the particle structure including the amphipathic protein fold. Fig 1. Schematics of nanodisc radiolabelling. A: chemical reaction of DOTA-NHS ester-conjugation to MSP lysines and further radiolabelling with 64 Cu 2+ . B: symbol explanation for C. C 1: MD simulation of ordinary nanodisc[6] (lipids in blue, MSP in red). 2: nanodisc assembled with DOTA conjugated MSP. 3: 64 Cu radiolabelled nanodisc.

Biochemistry, 2005

The stability of human low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the major cholesterol carrier in plasma, was analyzed by heating samples of different concentrations at a rate from 11 to 90 K/h. Correlation of the calorimetric, circular dichroism, fluorescence, turbidity, and electron microscopic data shows that thermal disruption of LDL involves irreversible changes in the particle morphology and protein conformation but no global protein unfolding. Heating to 85°C induces LDL conversion into smaller and larger particles and apparent partial dissociation, but not unfolding, of its sole protein, apoB. Further heating leads to partial unfolding of the-sheets in apoB and to fusion of the protein-depleted LDL into large aggregated lipid droplets, resulting in a previously unidentified high-temperature calorimetric peak. These lipid droplets resemble in size and morphology the extracellular lipid deposits formed in the arterial wall in early atherosclerosis. The strong concentration dependence of LDL fusion revealed by near-UV/ visible CD, turbidity, and calorimetry indicates high reaction order, and the heating rate dependence suggests high activation energy that arises from transient disruption of lipid and/or protein packing interactions in the course of particle fusion and apparent apoB dissociation. Consequently, thermal stability of LDL is modulated by kinetic barriers. Similar barriers may confer structural integrity to LDL subclasses in vivo.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally. For close to four decades, we have known that high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels are inversely correlated with the risk of CVD. HDL is a complex particle that consists of proteins, phospholipids, and cholesterol and has the ability to carry micro-RNAs. HDL is constantly undergoing remodelling throughout its life-span and carries out many functions. This review summarizes many of the different aspects of HDL from its assembly, the receptors it interacts with, along with the functions it performs and how it can be altered in disease. While HDL is a key cholesterol efflux particle, this review highlights the many other important functions of HDL in the innate immune system and details the potential therapeutic uses of HDL outside of CVD.

Journal of the CardioMetabolic Syndrome, 2007

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) in blood plasma are recognized as potential biomarkers for disease. Although blood plasma is easily obtainable, analysis of EVs at the single particle level is still challenging due to the biological complexity of this body fluid. Besides EVs, plasma contains different types of lipoproteins particles (LPPs), that outnumber EVs by orders of magnitude and which partially overlap in biophysical properties such as size, density and molecular makeup. Consequently, during EV isolation LPPs are often co-isolated. Furthermore, physical EV-LPP complexes have been observed in purified EV preparations. Since co-isolation or association of LPPs can impact single EV-based analysis and biomarker profiling, we investigated whether under physiological conditions LPPs and EVs can associate by using cryo-electron tomography, label-free synchronous Rayleigh and Raman scattering analysis of optically trapped particles and fluorescence-based high resolution single particle f...

Journal of Lipid Research, 2011

Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences, 1999

Human low density lipoproteins (LDL) are the major cholesterol carriers in the blood. Elevated concentration of LDL is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic disease. Purified LDL particles appear heterogeneous in images obtained with a 400-kV electron cryomicroscope. Using multivariate statistical and cluster analyses, an ensemble of randomly oriented particle images has been subdivided into homogeneous subpopulations, and the largest subset was used for three-dimensional reconstruction. In contrast to the general belief that below the lipid phase-transition temperature (30°C) LDL are quasi-spherical microemulsion particles with a radially layered core-shell organization, our threedimensional map shows that LDL have a well-defined and stable organization. Particles consist of a higher-density outer shell and lower-density inner lamellae-like layers that divide the core into compartments. The outer shell consists of apolipoprotein B-100, phospholipids, and some free cholesterol. FIG. 4. Similarity of raw images, final class averages, and corresponding reprojections from the final 3D map. This demonstrates the consistency of the image reconstruction. FIG. 3. Twenty-nine classes used for first 3D reconstruction of the LDL after selection of the images of the homogeneous subpopulation of particles. Each class contains 10-20 individual images. Biochemistry: Orlova et al.

Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2011

Apolipoprotein B100 (apoB100)-containing plasma lipoproteins (LDL and VLDL) supply tissues and cells with cholesterol and fat. During lipolytic conversion from VLDL to LDL the size and chemical composition of the particles change, but the apoB100 molecule remains bound to the lipids and regulates the receptor mediated uptake. The molecular physical parameters which control lipoprotein remodeling and enable particle stabilization by apoB100 are largely unknown. Here, we have compared the molecular dynamics and elasticities of VLDL and LDL derived by elastic neutron scattering temperature scans. We have determined thermal motions, dynamical transitions, and molecular fluctuations, which reflect the temperature-dependent motional coupling between lipid and protein. Our results revealed that lipoprotein particles are extremely soft and flexible. We found substantial differences in the molecular resiliences of lipoproteins, especially at higher temperatures. These discrepancies not only can be explained in terms of lipid composition and mobility but also suggest that apoB100 displays different dynamics dependent on the lipoprotein it is bound to. Hence, we suppose that the inherent conformational flexibility of apoB100 permits particle stabilization upon lipid exchange, whereas the dynamic coupling between protein and lipids might be a key determinant for lipoprotein conversion and atherogenicity.