Lipoproteins in lecithin-cholesterol-acyltransferase (LCAT) -deficiency. II. Further studies on the abnormal high-density-lipoproteins
Utermann, G.; Menzel, H.J.; Langer, K.H.; Dieker, P.
Humangenetik 27(3): 185-187
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0018-7348 PMID: 168146 DOI: 10.1007/bf00278345
Accession: 040582198
The lipoproteins from two sibs with familial lecithin-cholesterol-acyltransferase(LCAT)-deficiency were further characterized. Comparatively lipoproteins from patients with secondary LCAT-deficiency were studied. Both groups of patients had particles of unusual size and shape in the alpha1-(HD-2)-lipoprotein subfraction. The abnormal HDL-2 particles were disk-like in appearance with a major axis of about 180 A and a minor axis of about 40 A and tended to aggregate into long coinlike stacks. The abnormal HDL-2 particles contained the normal protein constituents of HDL Apo A-I, Apo A-II and Apo C but in addition a major polypeptide with a M.W. of 39000 not seen in significant amounts in normal high-density-lipoproteins. This polypeptide was found identical in size, isoelectric focusing and immunochemically with an arginine-rich normal polypeptide constituent of very-low-density-lipoproteins designated apoprotein E. Presence of this protein marker in the HDL allowed the specific immunological detection of the abnormal HDL-2 (LP-E) in plasma. Further minor biochemical abnormalities were observed in the lipoproteins of the patients with familial LCAT-deficiency. However, the main protein constituents of their HDL, the Apo A, Apo C and Apo E polypeptides, were found to be identical electrophoretically and by analytical isoelectric focusing with their normal counterparts. The data suggest that the basic genetic defect in the hereditary disease leads to a deficient activity of the LCAT-enzyme and that all abnormalities in the lipoprotein spectrum are secondary.