|
A more recent version of this article appeared on May 1, 2004
Papers In Press, published online ahead of print February 16, 2004
J. Lipid Res., doi:10.1194/jlr.M300521-JLR200
Submitted on December 22, 2003
Revised on February 6, 2004
Accepted on February 13, 2004
Combined data from LDL composition and size measurement are compatible with a discoid particle shape
Tom Teerlink, Peter G. Scheffer, Stephan J.L. Bakker, and Robert J. Heine
Clinical Chemistry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam 1007 MB
Corresponding Author: t.teerlink{at}vumc.nl
The size of LDL is usually reported as particle diameter, with the implicit assumption that it is a spherical particle. On the other hand, data obtained by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and crystallographic analysis suggest that LDL shape may be discoid, implying that two dimensions are needed to describe its size, i.e. diameter and height. We have investigated LDL particle geometry by combining data on LDL lipid composition with size measurement. Mean LDL diameter of 160 samples was measured by high performance gel-filtration chromatography (HPGC) and LDL particle volume was calculated from its lipid composition. Assuming a spherical shape, diameters calculated from volume correlated poorly with values obtained by HPGC (R2 = 0.36). Assuming a discoid shape, particle height was calculated from volume and HPGC-diameter. Diameter (20.9 ± 0.5 nm) and height (12.1 ± 0.8 nm) corresponded closely to reported cryo-EM data. Diameter and height were not significantly related to each other (r = 0.14; P = 0.09) and accounted for 77% and 23% of the variation in particle volume, respectively. In multivariate regression models, LDL core lipids were the main independent determinants of height (R2 = 0.83), whereas free cholesterol in the shell, which contributes only 5 - 9% to LDL mass, was the main determinant of diameter (R2 = 0.54). We conclude that combined data from composition and size measurements are compatible with a discoid particle shape and propose a structural model for LDL in which free cholesterol plays a major role in determining particle shape and diameter.

CiteULike Complore Connotea Del.icio.us Digg Reddit Technorati What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:

|
 |

|
 |
 
L. P. van der Zwan, T. Teerlink, J. M. Dekker, R. M. A. Henry, C. D. A. Stehouwer, C. Jakobs, R. J. Heine, and P. G. Scheffer
Circulating oxidized LDL: determinants and association with brachial flow-mediated dilation
J. Lipid Res.,
February 1, 2009;
50(2):
342 - 349.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
D. C. Rambaldi, A. Zattoni, S. Casolari, P. Reschiglian, D. Roessner, and C. Johann
An analytical method for size and shape characterization of blood lipoproteins.
Clin. Chem.,
November 1, 2007;
53(11):
2026 - 2029.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
T. Teerlink and P. G. Scheffer
LDL Particles Are Nonspherical: Consequences for Size Determination and Phenotypic Classification
Clin. Chem.,
February 1, 2007;
53(2):
361 - 362.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Moller, H. Botti, C. Batthyany, H. Rubbo, R. Radi, and A. Denicola
Direct Measurement of Nitric Oxide and Oxygen Partitioning into Liposomes and Low Density Lipoprotein
J. Biol. Chem.,
March 11, 2005;
280(10):
8850 - 8854.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
D. R. Witte, M. R. Taskinen, H. Perttunen-Nio, A. van Tol, S. Livingstone, and H. M. Colhoun
Study of agreement between LDL size as measured by nuclear magnetic resonance and gradient gel electrophoresis
J. Lipid Res.,
June 1, 2004;
45(6):
1069 - 1076.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|
Copyright © 2004 by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
|
Advertisement
Advertisement
|