[Detection of apoprotein A-1 immunoreactivity in chromatin of rat hepatocytes]

The binding of 125I-labeled lipoproteins to subcellular structures of rat hepatocytes was studied. The protein component of HDL, LDL, and VLDL was found in large and small membranes, nuclei, mitochondria, lysosomes, microsomes, and cell cytosol. The presence in liver nuclear chromatin of proteins immunochemically related to apoA-1 was demonstrated by solid phase immunoenzymatic analysis, dot immunoanalysis, and immunoelectroblotting. The apoprotein A-1 immunoreactivity was detected in transcriptionally inactive total chromatin, transcriptionally active chromatin, and nuclear matrix. The specific apoA-1 immunoreactivity of transcriptionally active chromatin and nuclear matrix was two times as low as that of total and transcriptionally inactive chromatin. Immunoelectroblotting revealed two proteins possessing an apoA-1 immunoreactivity (M(r) 28 and 14 kDa). The 28 kDa protein was found in transcriptionally active chromatin and nuclear matrix, while the 14 kDa one--only in transcriptionally inactive chromatin. the roles of apoproteins in lipid transport to nuclei and the maintenance of chromatin in a transcriptionally active state are discussed.