The Plasma Lipoproteins

Abstract

Plasma lipoproteins are the macromolecular complexes with reproducible lipid-protein ratios and stability in aqueous solutions. This chapter describes the classification of the plasma lipoproteins, molecular properties of apolipoproteins, molecular organization of lipoprotein particles, and lipoprotein metabolism. The chapter focuses critically on the recent advances in the field of lipoprotein structure and metabolism. Significant advances about the knowledge of the primary structure and molecular properties of several of the apolipoproteins have been observed. The realization that a number of apolipoproteins undergo self-association provides important, as well as fascinating, insight into the molecular properties of this unique group of proteins. Studies on the synthesis, catabolism, and metabolic interrelationships of plasma lipoproteins provide a number of insights into lipoprotein metabolism, including the precursor-product relationship of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL)-low density lipoproteins (LDL), the peripheral metabolism of lipoprotein particles, as well as the metabolic and molecular defect(s) in patients with disorders of lipid metabolism. Current information on plasma lipoproteins, despite rapid advances in the field, must be regarded as preliminary. However, the availability of current techniques and knowledge of lipoprotein structure and metabolism will undoubtedly provide the necessary background required for the major progress in the knowledge of plasma lipoproteins.