Journal of Lipid Research, Vol 18, 14-23, Copyright © 1977 by Lipid Research, Inc.
Composition-structure-function correlations in the binding of an apolipoprotein to phosphatidylcholine bilayer mixtures
HJ Pownall, JD Morrisett and AM Gotto Jr
We have studied the lipid binding of apoC-III with two types of mixed
vesicles of DMPC (dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine) and DPPC (dipalmitoyl
phosphatidyl-choline). DMPC vesicles mixed with those of DPPC produce a
macroscopic mixture in which the DMPC and DPPC vesicles remain intact. The
circular dichroism and fluorescence spectra of apoC- III in the presence of
this macroscopic mixture exhibit major changes near the transition
temperature of each of the pure lipids, confirming the independent
existence of the two PC's. Combining DMPC:DPPC macroscopic mixtures with
apoC-III above the transition temperature, Tc 23 degrees C, of DMPC
produces an isolatable complex consisting of 4:1 DMPC:DPPC. If the DMPC and
DPPC are within the same vesicle, this microscopic lipid mixture has
properties that are functions of the temperature and lipid composition.
Spectral analysis of apoC-III in the presence of the micromixtures reveals
a single transition, which occurs between the respective thermal
transitions of DMPC (23 degrees C) and DPPC (41 degrees C). The lipid:
protein complexes isolated from the microscopic mixtures have a DMPC: DPPC
ratio identical to that of the vesicle with which the apoprotein was mixed;
the formation of these complexes is most efficient above the temperature
range where these microscopic mixtures induce major structural changes in
the apoprotein. The absence of the preferential binding to DMPC observed in
the macroscopic mixtures suggests that apoC-III interacts with large lipid
domains within a vesicle and does not selectively bind the low melting
DMPC. The temperature dependence of the binding of apoC-III to the
microscopic mixtures may be due to phase separation or to
cocrystallization; our data support the latter process.