Structural relationship of human apolipoprotein B48 to apolipoprotein B100

Although the complete amino acid sequence of human apolipoprotein (apo) B100 is known (4536 amino acids), the structure of apo B48 has not been defined. The objective of our study was to define the structure of apo B48 and its relationship to apo B100. Antibodies were produced against 22 synthetic peptides corresponding to sequences in human apo B100. The levels of immunoreactivity of the antipeptides to apo B100 and apo B48 were used to define the structural relationship between these two species of apo B. Six antibodies from sequences in the amino-terminal half of apo B100, including antipeptide 2110-2129, bound to both apo B100 and apo B48. 15 other apo B-specific antipeptides from sequences carboxyl-terminal to residue 2152 bound to apo B100, but not to apo B48. Immunoblots of cyanogen bromide digests of apo B100 and apo B48 with antipeptides 2068-2091 and 2110-2129 detected a 16-KD fragment (residues 2016-2151) in the apo B100 digest and a fragment of identical size in the apo B48 digest. Because apo B48 appears to contain the apo B100 cyanogen bromide fragment 2016-2151 and because an antiserum specific for the peptide 2152-2168 does not bind to apo B48, we conclude that apo B48 represents the amino-terminal 47% of apo B100 and that the carboxyl terminus of apo B48 is in the vicinity of residue 2151 of apo B100.