Journal of Lipid Research, Vol 26, 38-46, Copyright © 1985 by Lipid Research, Inc.
Conformational properties of human and rat apolipoprotein A-IV
E Dvorin, WW Mantulin, MF Rohde, AM Gotto Jr, HJ Pownall and BC Sherrill
Apolipoprotein A-IV has been isolated from four sources: human and rat
lymph and plasma. Conformational properties of the rat and human apoA- IV
in solution and denaturation changes induced by guanidine hydrochloride
(Gnd X HCl) were studied using circular dichroic and fluorescence
spectroscopy, and analytical sedimentation equilibrium ultracentrifugation.
We have shown that both rat and human apoA-IV have similar secondary
structure with negative maxima in the circular dichroic spectra at 222 nm
and 207 nm. Furthermore, we have found no significant difference in the
alpha-helical content of the apoA-IV from rat plasma (33%), rat lymph
(37%), human plasma (35%), or human lymph (35%). Our denaturation studies
with Gnd X HCl demonstrated reversibility and the fact that each apoA-IV
had a tendency to self- associate in solution and the self-association
could be disrupted by low concentrations of Gnd X HCl (less than or equal
to 0.4 M). Unfolding of the secondary structure of each apoA-IV occurred at
higher concentrations of Gnd X HCl (midpoint less than or equal to 1.0 M).
The apparent free energy of denaturation of the four apoA-IV proteins
calculated from changes in the circular dichroic spectra upon addition of
increasing concentrations of Gnd X HCl varied in a range from 3.0 to 4.2
kcal/mol. The fluorescence experiments revealed that apoA-IV from all
sources had a maximum fluorescence emission at 342.5 nm, which shifted to
the red region upon addition of increasing concentrations of Gnd X
HCl.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)