Remodeling of human plasma lipoproteins by detergent perturbation

Detergent perturbation, the treatment of total human plasma lipoproteins (TLP) with sodium cholate and its subsequent removal, has been used to study lipoprotein dynamics and stability. At physiological TLP concentrations, detergent perturbation converts low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) to higher-particle weight species with the concomitant release of apo A-I but not apo A-II as a lipid-poor species. Detergent perturbation of isolated HDL also releases lipid-poor apo A-I and forms larger HDL species, whereas detergent perturbation of an isolated LDL has no effect on its size. A model is presented in which detergent perturbation induces transfer of PC from metastable HDL and LDL to mixed micelles with sodium cholate. The remaining LDL and HDL are unstable because of the loss of their surface components, phospholipid and/or apo A-I, and fuse to give larger LDL and HDL particles. These effects on HDL, i.e., PC transfer, apo A-I dissociation, and particle fusion, emulate the activity of human plasma phospholipid transfer protein. Thus, detergent perturbation is a new and potentially powerful method for determining lipoprotein stability, studying the mechanisms for remodeling of plasma lipoproteins, and preparing new forms of HDL and LDL with unique interactions with lipoprotein transporters and receptors.