Effects of the neutral lipid content of high density lipoprotein on apolipoprotein A-I structure and particle stability

Abstract

Alterations in high density lipoprotein (HDL) composition that occur in dyslipidemic states may modulate a number of events involved in cholesterol homeostasis. To elucidate the details of how HDL-core composition can affect the molecular structure of different kinds of HDL particles, the conformation and stability of apoA-I have been investigated in homogeneous recombinant HDL particles (LpA-I) containing palmitoyloleoyl phosphatidylcholine (POPC), triolein (TG), and/or cholesteryl linoleate (CE). In a discoidal particle containing two molecules of apoA-I and 85 molecules of POPC, apoA-I exhibits an α-helix content of 70% and a free energy of stability of its α-helical segments (ΔG(D)/0) of 2.2 kcal/mol. Inclusion of eight molecules of TG into the complex significantly reduces the α-helix content and stability of apoA- I, whereas inclusion of four molecules of CE into the complex has an opposite effect in that the α-helix content is significantly reduced and the stability of the remaining α-helical structure of apoA-I is increased. Neutral lipids have a different effect on apoA-I conformation in spherical LpA-I particles. In a sonicated-spherical LpA-I particle containing two molecules of apoA-I and 70 molecules of POPC, apoA-I exhibits an α-helix content of about 60% and a ΔG(D)/0 of 1.2 kcal/mol apoA-I. Inclusion of either 10 molecules of TG or six molecules of CE into such a particle increases both the α-helix content and stability of apoA-I. Increasing the CE/TG ratio in LpA-I particles that contain both neutral lipids enhances the stability of the α-helical segments. ApoA-I molecules tend to dissociate and cause particle instability when ΔG(D)/0 for the lipid-bound α-helices is less than that for helices in the lipid-free state. The stabilities of both discoidal and spherical LpA-I particles are relatively low when the only neutral lipid present is TG but the particle stability is enhanced by the presence of CE molecules. Such dissociation of apoA-I molecules front LpA-I particles that have a low CE/TG ratio would be promoted in the hypertriglyceridemic state in vivo.