In an attempt to provide immunological tools for subfractionation of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), monoclonal antibodies were raised against HDL complexes. Two clones identified a peptide, provisionally named K-45 (PI 4.5-4.9; molecular mass 45 kDa, range 42-48 kDa), whose plasma distribution and lipoprotein association were fully characterised. Gel filtration localised the peptide to the HDL region of human plasma where it co-eluted with apolipoprotein (apo) A-I, the structural protein of HDL. Complementary studies employing immunoabsorption with anti-(apo A-I) antibodies removed 90 % of K-45 from plasma: conversely, anti-(apo A-11) antibodies eliminated only 10 % of K-45. Immunoaffinity chromatography on an anti-(K-45) column revealed that the peptide was present in a distinct HDL subspecies containing three major proteins: K-45, apo A-I and clusterin or apo J. The lipoprotein nature of the bound fraction was indicated by electron microscopy (diameter 9.6 ? 3.3 nm) and quantification of lipids, the latter showing an unusually high triacyglycerol concentration. Plasma concentrations of K-45 were positively correlated with apo A-I and HDL-cholesterol and negatively correlated with apo B and total cholesterol. Thus, the peptide appears to be linked, directly or indirectly, to processes which give rise to an anti-atherogenic lipid profile. After completion of the present studies, an N-terminal sequence identical to that of K-45 was reported in recently isolated cDNA clones. These clones encode paraoxonase.Lipoprotein complexes are the principal transport vehicles for plasma lipids. As such, they are the focus of particular attention which derives from the designation of blood lipids as primary cardiovascular risk factors [l, 21. The rationale behind these studies is that a dysfunctional lipid transport system will be a major cause of the dyslipidaemias associated with premature cardiovascular disease [3]. In this context, an obvious pre-requisite is a comprehensive understanding of the normal functioning of the lipoprotein metabolic system ; unfortunately, this is not currently the case. It is due, in part, to the highly dynamic nature of this metabolic process, rendered even more intricate by extensive interactions between the major subclasses, very-low-density (VLDL), low-density (LDL) and high-density (HDL) lipoproteins [4]. The latter are of particular interest as they afford a measure of protection against cardiovascular disease [5, 61. Yet many aspects of HDL metabolism are poorly understood. Neither the origins nor the sites of catabolism of this lipoprotein species have been convincingly demonstrated. Additionally, the mechanisms by which HDL assure their postuCorrespondence to R.

The membrane permeability of cyclic peptides and peptidomimetics, which are generally larger and more complex than typical drug molecules, is likely strongly influenced by the conformational behavior of these compounds in polar and apolar environments. The size and complexity of peptides often limit their bioavailability, but there are known examples of peptide natural products such as cyclosporin A (CsA) that can cross cell membranes by passive diffusion. CsA is an undecapeptide with seven methylated backbone amides. Its crystal structure shows a "closed" twisted β-pleated sheet conformation with four intramolecular hydrogen bonds that is also observed in NMR measurements of CsA in chloroform. When binding to its target cyclophilin, on the other hand, CsA adopts an "open" conformation without intramolecular hydrogen bonds. In this study, we attempted to sample the complete conformational space of CsA in chloroform and in water by molecular dynamics simulations in order to better understand its conformational behavior in these two environments and to rationalize the good membrane permeability of CsA observed experimentally. From 10 μs molecular dynamics simulations in each solvent, Markov state models were constructed to characterize the metastable conformational states. The model in chloroform is compared to nuclear Overhauser effect NMR spectroscopy data reported in this study and taken from the literature. The conformational landscapes in the two solvents show significant overlap but also clearly distinct features.

Amphiphilic detergent-soluble acetylcholinesterase (AChE) from Torpedo is converted to a hydrophilic form by digestion with phospholipase C from Trypanosoma brucei or from Bacillus cereus. This lipase digestion uncovers an immunological determinant which crossreacts with a complex carbohydrate structure present in the hydrophilic form of all variant surface glycoproteins (VSG) of T. brucei. This crossreacting determinant is also detected in human erythrocyte AChE after digestion with T. brucei lipase. From these results we conclude that the glycophospholipid anchors of protozoan VSG and of AChE of the two vertebrates share common structuraf features, suggesting that this novel type of membrane anchor has been conserved during evolution. Acetylchohnesterase Phospholipase C Surface glycoprotein (Trypanosoma brucei)Crossreacting determinant

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