Conformational change of apolipoprotein A-I and HDL formation from model membranes under intercellular acidic conditions

Masakazu Fukuda, Minoru Nakano, Masakazu Miyazaki, Masafumi Tanaka, Hiroyuki Saito, Satoe Kobayashi, Masaharu Ueno, and Tetsurou Handa

Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501

Corresponding Author: mnakano{at}pharm.kyoto-u.ac.jp

The molecular mechanism by which nascent high density lipoprotein (HDL) forms via the interaction of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and transmembrane ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) is poorly understood. Here, as ABCA1 has been reported to localize to acidic intracellular compartments, including the Golgi and endosome, we studied the interaction of apoA-I with model membranes under acidic conditions. Pure phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes were persistent against apoA-I at pH levels above 5.0, but were progressively transformed into reconstituted HDLs (rHDLs) by apoA-I at lower pH. Circular dichroism spectral measurements and 8-anilino-1-naphtalenesulfonic acid fluorescence measurements of lipid-free apoA-I ascribed this accelerated rHDL formation to the conformational change of the protein into rather hydrophobic a-helical structure under acidic conditions. The addition of phosphatidylserine (PS) increased acidity at the bilayer surface and enabled the formation of discoidal rHDLs even at the pH of the endosome and slightly lower pH of the Golgi. These results suggest the following new scenario of nascent HDL formation; ABCA1, which colocalizes with apoA-I in acidic intracellular compartments, including the Golgi and endosome, increases acidity at the membrane surface on the luminal side by PS translocase activity and causes apoA-I to form nascent HDL.

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