4.4.

3(Bioc) Lipoproteins:

Chylomicrons,VLDL,LDL,and

HDL

Biochemistry, Two
LIPIDS

Endogenous: synthesized by the body

Exogenous: derived from food

Lipids needs to be transported from one

organ to another
Lipids are insoluble in water \Circulated in
body fluids as soluble protein complexes
called Lipoproteins.

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A lipoprotein is a biochemical
assembly that contains both proteins
and lipids.

The lipids or their derivatives may be

covalently or non-covalently bound
to the proteins
OR,

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A lipoprotein is a particle consisting of
a core of hydrophobic lipids
surrounded by a shell of polar
lipids(Phospholipids) and apoproteins.

An apoproteins is a protein without

its characteristic prosthetic group.

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 Seven principal apoproteins have
been isolated and characterized:
A-1
A-2
A-4
B-48
B-100
C and
E
Biochemistry, Two
 Lipoprotein structure (chylomicron)
ApoA, ApoB, ApoC, ApoE (apoproteins); T (triacylglycerol); C (cholesterol); green (phospholipids)

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 Many :
enzymes,
transporters,
structural proteins,
antigens,
adhesins and
toxins are lipoproteins.

Lipoproteins are synthesized and

secreted by the liver and the
intestines.
Biochemistry, Two
 These lipoproteins have two major roles:

1. They solubilize highly hydrophobic lipids for

transportation
Lipoproteins in the blood (an aqueous
medium) carry fats around the body.
The protein particles have hydrophilic
groups aimed outward so as to attract
water molecules; this makes them
soluble in the salt water based blood
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system
2. They contain signals that regulate
the movement of particular lipids into
and out of specific target cells and
tissues

Biochemistry, Two
 Classification
1. By density
Listed in order from larger and less dense (more fat than protein) to
smaller and more dense (more protein, less fat):
 Chylomicrons - carry TAC (fat) from the intestines to the liver,

skeletal muscle, and to adipose tissue.

 Very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) - carry (newly synthesized)

triacylglycerol from the liver to adipose tissue.

 Intermediate density lipoproteins (IDL) - are intermediate between VLDL

and LDL.
 Low density lipoproteins (LDL) - carry cholesterol from the liver to cells of

the body. Sometimes referred to as the "bad cholesterol" lipoprotein.

 High density lipoproteins (HDL) - collects cholesterol from the body's

tissues, and brings it back to the liver. Sometimes referred to as the "good
cholesterol" lipoprotein.
Biochemistry, Two
Triacylglycerols(TAC),cholesterol and
other lipids obtained from the diet are
carried from the intestines to adipose
tissue and the liver by the large
chylomicrons(Diameter of 80-100 nm)

Their density is very low

(<0.94g/cm3)because they rich in
TAC and have protein content of less
than 2%
Biochemistry, Two
TAC in chylomicrons are hydrolyzed
within a few minutes by lipases located
in the capillaries of adipose and other
peripheral tissues.

The cholesterol rich residue known as

Chylomicrons remnants are taken up by
the liver

Biochemistry, Two
TAC synthesized endogenously in contrast
with those obtained from the diet are carried
by Very low density lipoproteins (VLDL)
produced primarily by the liver.
TAC are released from them by the same
lipase that acts on chylomicrons.
The resulting remnants which are very rich in
cholesterols esters are called Intermediate-
density lipoproteins (IDL) .These particles
have two fates:
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Half of them are taken up by the liver
whereas the other half are converted
into low density lipoproteins( LDL)
,the major carrier of cholesterol in the
blood.
LDL has a diameter of 22nm.
It contains a core of about 1500
esterified cholesterol molecules.

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Biochemistry, Two
This highly hydrophobic core is
surrounded by a shell of phospholipids
and unesterified cholesterols.
The shell also contains a single
copy of B-100, very large
protein(514 kd).
The role of LDL is to transport
cholesterol to peripheral tissues and
regulate de novo cholesterol synthesis
at these sites.
Biochemistry, Two
A different purpose is served by high-
density lipoprotien (HDL) (density >
1.06 g/cm3) which picks up
cholesterol released into the plasma
from dying cells and from
membranes undergoing turnover.
An acyl transferase in HDL esterifies
these cholesterols, which are then
rapidly shuttled to VLDL or LDL by a
transfer protein.
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 Classification
2. Alpha and beta
It is also possible to classify lipoproteins
as "alpha" and "beta", akin to the
classification of proteins in
serum protein electrophoresis.

Biochemistry, Two
 Metabolism of lipoproteins
The handling of lipoproteins in the body is
referred to as lipoprotein metabolism. It is
divided into two pathways;
exogenous and
endogenous, depending in large part on
whether the lipoproteins in question are
composed chiefly of dietary (exogenous)
lipids or whether they originated in the liver
(endogenous).

Biochemistry, Two
 Exogenous pathway

Epithelial cells lining the small intestine

readily absorb lipids from the diet. These
lipids, including triglycerides, phospholipids,
and cholesterol, are assembled with
apoprotein B-48 into chylomicrons.

Biochemistry, Two
 Endogenous pathway

The liver is another important source of

lipoproteins, principally VLDL.
Triacylglycerol and cholesterol are
assembled with apoprotein B-100 to form
VLDL particles. Nascent VLDL particles are
released into the bloodstream via a process
that depends upon apoprotein B-100.

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Biochemistry, Two