Journal of Lipid Research, Vol 29, 319-324, Copyright © 1988 by Lipid Research, Inc.
Cross-linking of apoproteins in high density lipoprotein by dimethylsuberimidate inhibits specific lipoprotein binding to membranes
GK Chacko, FH Mahlberg and WJ Johnson
Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19129.
Apoprotein E-free high density lipoproteins (HDL) bind to various cells and
cell membrane preparations with properties typical of ligand- receptor
interactions. This specific binding can be inhibited by treatment of HDL
with tetranitromethane (TNM). During treatment of HDL with TNM, in addition
to the expected nitration of tyrosine residues, cross-linking of lipids to
apoproteins and of apoproteins to each other occurs. We have recently shown
that cross-linking of phospholipids to apoproteins is not responsible for
the inhibition of binding (1987. Chacko, G. K., et al. J. Lipid Res. 28:
332-337). To determine the role of cross-linking of apoproteins to each
other in the inhibition, we used the bifunctional reagent
dimethylsuberimidate (DMS) to cross-link the apoproteins in HDL3. Over 80%
of apoproteins in DMS-HDL3 were cross- linked, as analyzed by
SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. DMS-HDL3 was similar to control
HDL3 in its lipid composition. Gel filtration chromatography did not reveal
any significant difference in size between DMS-HDL3 and control HDL3. As
determined by competitive binding with 125I-labeled HDL3, DMS-HDL3 was
almost completely unable to bind specifically to rat liver plasma membranes
and human skin fibroblasts. It is concluded from these results that TNM
inhibits the specific binding of HDL3 to membranes by a mechanism that
involves cross-linking of apoproteins to each other in HDL3 particles. This
observation implies that the specific binding of HDL3 to cells may depend
on the native quaternary structure of apoproteins in the HDL particle.
Because of its reduced ability to bind to the specific binding sites,
DMS-HDL3 may be useful for studies related to the functional aspects of HDL
binding sites.