The isolation of low-density ( β-)lipoprotein from small volumes of human serum

Abstract

Summary (1)A method is described for the isolation of low-density β-lipoprotein which is applicable to small volumes of serum. The method is based on the selective precipitation of this protein by high molecular weight dextran sulphate. Subsequent treatment of the redissolved dextran sulphate-lipoprotein complex with diethylaminoethyl Sephadex (either as a column or batch procedure) has been shown to remove the sulphated polysaccharide completely and to yield β-lipoprotein in satisfactory yield and purity. (2)During development of this procedure, a modified method for the assay of dextran sulphate was evolved and is described. (3)This technique of preparation of lipoprotein was designed primarily for the isolation of β-lipoprotein from human serum but has been found also to be applicable to the recovery of β-lipoprotein from the serum of cholesterol-fed rabbits.