Identification of the thiol ester linked lipids in apolipoprotein B

Human plasma low-density lipoproteins of 1.032-1.043 g/mL density were totally delipidized. The reduced and carboxymethylated apolipoprotein B was incubated with 50 mM [14C]methylamine at pH 8.5 at 30 degrees C. Covalent incorporation of [14C]methylamine was observed with concomitant generation of new sulfhydryl groups, which could be blocked with [3H]- or [14C]iodoacetic acid. One type of the [14C]methylamine-modified products was separated from the protein and was found to be lipid in nature. Its Rf on thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was similar to that of the synthetic N-methyl fatty acyl amides. After purification with TLC and transesterification in 3 N methanolic HCl, methyl esters of C16 and C18 fatty acids at 1:1 ratio were identified by gas-liquid chromatography. The transesterification method was verified with the known N-methyl fatty acyl amides. These results suggest the presence of labile thiol ester linked palmitate and stearate in apolipoprotein B. Under mild alkaline conditions, the thiol ester bonds are broken by methylamine and form N-methyl fatty acyl amides and release new-SH groups. Intramolecular thiol ester bonds linked between cysteine side chains and acidic amino acid residues were also found present, which will be reported separately.