Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2000;20:1301-1308
(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2000;20:1301.)
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.
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Atherosclerosis and Lipoproteins |
Well-Defined Regions of Apolipoprotein B-100 Undergo Conformational Change During Its Intravascular Metabolism
Xingyu Wang;
Richard Pease;
Jesse Bertinato;
Ross W. Milne
From the Lipoprotein and Atherosclerosis Research Group and the
Departments of Pathology and Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology,
University of Ottawa Heart Institute (X.W., J.B., R.W.M.), Ottawa, Ontario,
Canada; the Sino-German Laboratory, Cardiovascular Institute (X.W.), Fuwai
Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; and the
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University College London
(R.P.), London, UK.
Correspondence to Ross Milne, PhD, Room H450, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1Y 4W7. E-mail rmilne{at}ottawaheart.ca
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Abstract
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AbstractApolipoprotein B
(apoB)-100containing
lipoproteins are secreted from the liver as
large triglyceride-rich
very low density lipoproteins
(VLDLs) into the circulation,
where they are transformed, through the
action of lipases and
plasma lipid transfer proteins, into smaller,
less buoyant,
cholesteryl esterrich low density lipoproteins (LDLs).
As
a consequence of this intravascular metabolism,
apoB-containing
lipoproteins are heterogeneous in size, in
hydrated density,
in surface charge, and in lipid and apolipoprotein
composition.
To identify specific regions of apoB that may undergo
conformational
changes during the intravascular transformation of VLDLs
into
LDLs, we have used a panel of 29 well-characterized anti-apoB
monoclonal
antibodies to determine whether individual apoB epitopes are
differentially
expressed in VLDL, intermediate density lipoprotein
(IDL), and
LDL subfractions isolated from 6 normolipidemic subjects.
When
analyzed in a solid-phase radioimmunoassay, the expression
of
most epitopes was remarkably similar in VLDLs, IDLs, and LDLs.
Two
epitopes that are close to the apoB LDL receptorbinding
site show an
increased expression in large (1.019 to 1.028 g/mL),
medium (1.028 to
1.041 g/mL), and small (1.041 to 1.063 g/mL)
LDLs compared with VLDLs
and IDLs, and 2 epitopes situated between
apoB residues 4342 and 4536
are significantly more immunoreactive
in small and medium-sized LDLs
compared with VLDLs, IDLs, and
large LDLs. Therefore, as VLDL is
converted to LDL, conformational
changes identified by monoclonal
antibodies occur at precise
points in the metabolic cascade
and are limited to well-defined
regions of apoB structure. These
conformational changes may
correspond to alterations in apoB
functional activities.
Key Words: apolipoprotein B intravascular metabolism lipoproteins
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Introduction
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ApoB-100, a 550-kDa glycoprotein composed of
4536 amino acid
residues, is a predominant protein component of VLDLs,
IDLs,
and LDLs
1 2 and is a ligand for the LDL receptor
(LDLr). It
is synthesized in the liver and secreted in the form of
large
triglyceride-rich VLDLs. Within the circulation,
VLDLs are transformed
into smaller, denser, cholesteryl esterrich
LDLs through
the combined action of plasma lipid transfer proteins,
lipoprotein
lipase, and hepatic lipase, a process that is accompanied
by
the loss of all apolipoproteins with the exception of apoB-100.
As a
consequence of this intravascular remodeling, apoB-containing
lipoproteins
(LpBs) are constituted of subpopulations of particles that
differ
in terms of particle diameter, hydrated density, surface charge,
and
apolipoprotein and lipid composition. This
heterogeneity in
the physical and chemical properties
of LpB leads to apoB conformational
heterogeneity that
is manifested in the differential accessibility
of protease-sensitive
sites
3 4 and expression of apoB epitopes.
5 6 7
This has functional consequences, particularly in terms
of the ability
of apoB to mediate binding to the LDLr.
7 8 The
LDL
fraction itself is composed of discrete subfractions of
particles that
differ in their physical and chemical properties,
and LDLs are
heterogeneous in terms of apoB
conformation,
9 10 11 12 epitope
expression,
9 10 11 13 14 accessibility of protease-sensitive
sites,
15 and affinity for the
LDLr.
9 10 11 16 17 Whether it is lipid
composition, particle
diameter, or another variable that is
the major modulator of apoB
conformation in LDL remains controversial.
LDL
heterogeneity is thought to have important clinical
implications
because a predominance of small dense LDL particles has
been
reported to be a risk factor for
atherosclerosis.
18
Immunoelectron microscopic analyses suggest that apoB-100
adopts an extended structure on the surface of the LDL and wraps around
the particle.19 20 Unlike most of the other smaller
exchangeable apolipoproteins that are thought to be constituted
primarily of tandem amphipathic
-helices, apoB-100 is predicted to
contain amphipathic
-helices and amphipathic
ß-sheets.1 2 On the basis of a number of experimental
criteria, including the susceptibility of apoB to limited proteolytic
digestion21 and the distribution of lipophilic regions
within apoB primary structure,22 it has been proposed that
apoB-100 is organized into distinct structural domains. A pentapartite
model of apoB domain organization has also been proposed on the basis
of the predicted apoB-100 secondary structure.23 24 A
model of the tertiary structure of the amino-terminal region of apoB
has recently been developed by homology modeling with the use of the
atomic coordinates of lamprey lipovitellin.25 26 27
ApoB-100, lipovitellin, and microsomal triglyceride
transfer protein show homology over a sequence of
670 amino acids at
the amino termini of their respective primary structures.
In the present study, we describe an immunochemical
analysis of apoB in LpBs fractionated as a function of their
hydrated density. The present study is unique in that we have used
a panel of 29 well-characterized anti-apoB monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)
whose corresponding epitopes are distributed throughout the apoB
primary structure. We demonstrate that at precise steps during its
intravascular metabolism, apoB undergoes important
conformational changes that are limited to well-defined regions of its
structure.
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Methods
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Preparation and Characterization of Lipoproteins
Fresh plasma from normolipidemic subjects was prepared
from
blood obtained from the Canadian Red Cross. The plasma was
supplemented
with 0.5 mmol/L EDTA, 0.02%
NaN
3, 0.5 mmol/L phenylmethylsulfonyl
fluoride,
and 0.5 µg/mL leupeptin. After the removal of
chylomicrons,
VLDLs (density <1.006), IDLs (density 1.006 to 1.019),
and
LDLs (density 1.019 to 1.063) were isolated by sequential
ultracentrifugation.
28 LDL subfractions
were isolated by discontinuous density gradient
ultracentrifugation
of LDLs as described by Teng et
al.
13 Three fractions (1.019
to 1.028 g/mL [large LDL],
1.028 to 1.040 g/mL [medium LDL],
and 1.040 to 1.050 g/mL [small
LDL]) were recovered; they were
characterized in terms of particle
diameter by electrophoresis
on a 4% to 15% polyacrylamide
gradient under nondenaturing conditions.
29 Total and free
cholesterol and phospholipid and triglyceride
content
were determined enzymatically by using kits from
Boehringer-Mannheim
according to the manufacturers
recommendations. For LDL,
protein concentration was determined by the
modified Lowry method
(Markwell et al
30 ) with BSA used as
the standard. To determine
apoB protein content of VLDL and IDL, apoB
was precipitated
with 50% isopropanol, and the protein content of the
precipitate
was measured after solubilization with 2% sodium
deoxycholate.
31
Production of New Anti-Human LDL mAbs
New mAbs used in the present study were generated from
mice that had been subjected to a subtractive immunization
protocol32 that will be described in detail elsewhere.
After cyclophosphamide-mediated suppression of the immune response to
normal human LDLs, female BALB/c mice were immunized with LDLs isolated
from a subject with familial defective apoB with use of
N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine
(Calbiochem) as an adjuvant. Protocols for cell fusion, screening for
hybridomas by solid-phase immunoassay, and subcloning have been
described in detail.33 None of the mAbs used in the
present study discriminates between normal LDL and familial
defective apoB LDL.
Mapping the Epitopes for Monoclonal Antibodies
The epitopes of the mAbs were mapped within apoB primary
structure by their reactivity with (1) T4 (residues 1 to 1297), T3
(residues 1298 to 3249), and T2 (residues 3250 to 4536) fragments of
apoB generated by thrombin digestion of LDL,34 35 (2) apoB
fragments produced as ß-galactosidase fusion proteins in
Escherichia coli,34 and (3)
carboxy-terminally truncated apoB and apoA-I/apoB fusion proteins
produced by appropriately transfected McA-7777 cell
lines.36 37 In the latter case, mAbs were tested for
reactivity with denatured apoB by Western blotting after SDS-PAGE and
with native LpBs by use of a sandwich
radioimmunoassay.33
LDLr Binding Assay
To assay the reactivity of LDL subclasses with the LDLr,
samples were tested for their ability to compete with
125I-LDL for binding to the LDLr on the surface
of cultured human fibroblasts.38 Methods to determine the
abilities of anti-apoB mAbs to block the binding of LDL to the LDLr and
to bind to LDL in LDL-LDLr complexes have been described
previously.39
Competitive Radioimmunoassay
The competitive apoB radioimmunoassay has been described
previously.40
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Results
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Production and Mapping the Epitopes of mAbs for
ApoB
Although many new anti-human apoB hybridomas were obtained
from
a total of 8 fusions, we characterized only the mAbs that showed
specificity
different from those of our previous panel. Antibodies 376,
746,
and 3E11 reacted with T4; antibodies 374, 1C4, 3A5, 2G4, 3G9,
278,
and 390 reacted with T3; and antibodies 588, 4H11, 3E8,
234, and 6O5
reacted with T2. A summary of the reactivities
of all the antibodies
with the apoBß-galactosidase
fusion proteins is presented
in Table 1

.
Autoradiograms for
2 of the mAbs that are of particular
importance in the present
study are presented in Figure

I,
which is published online only
(http://atvb.ahajournals.org). The
reactivities of certain mAbs
with lipoproteins containing
carboxy-terminally truncated human
apoB variants that were expressed in
McA-7777 cells were determined
and used to map the corresponding
epitopes more precisely. Antibody
374 reacts with apoB-34 (residues 1
to 1542) but not with apoB-29
(residues 1 to 1306), mAb 1C4 recognizes
apoB-42 (residues 1
to 1880) but not apoB-37 (residues 1 to 1695), and
3A5 reacts
with apoB-46 (residues 1 to 2100) but not with apoB-42
(results
not shown). A map of the epitopes of the new mAbs, along with
those
of the previously described anti-human apoB mAbs that are used
in
the present study, is presented in Figure 1

.

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Figure 1. Map of apoB epitopes recognized by mAbs that have
been used in the present study. A, The primary sequence of apoB is
represented as a thick solid line. Numbers under the apoB
primary sequence are the amino acid residues that define regions
containing epitopes, and those above the line are the epitopes of the
mAbs. The epitopes of mAbs identified in italics have not been reported
previously. The epitopes of previously characterized
mAbs34 are shown in normal font. B, Pentapartite model of
apoB structure.23 24
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The epitopes of several of the mAbs are located within the region
of apoB that includes the LDLr-binding site. The epitopes for mAbs 278,
3G9, and 390 have been assigned to the region of residues 2658 to 3268,
and all 3 mAbs mutually compete with 4G3 (residues 2980 to 3084) but
not with 3F5 (residues 2835 to 2922) for binding to
immobilized LDL (not shown). The 278 epitope differed from
the 4G3, 390, and 3G9 epitopes by being resistant to reductive
methylation (not shown). mAb 588 was mapped to a region between apoB
residues 3687 and 4081. Partial (25%) mutual competition between 5E11
(residues 3441 to 3506)34 and 588 for binding to
immobilized LDL was observed, whereas mAb MB47 (residues
3429 to 3453 and residues 3507 to 3523)41 did not compete
with 588 (results not shown). All mAbs were tested for their ability to
block binding of 125I-LDL to the LDLr on cultured
human fibroblasts. As would be predicted, mAbs specific for epitopes
that are outside the previously defined LDLr-binding region of
apoB39 did not block the binding of LDL to the LDLr
(Figure 2A
). Antibodies 278, 3G9, 390,
and 588 did neutralize LDL binding to the LDLr, although in the case of
mAb 390 and 588, neutralization was only partial. The accessibility of
all epitopes in LDL-LDLr complexes was also tested. The 278 and 3G9
epitopes are inaccessible on LDL-LDLr complexes, whereas the epitopes
for mAbs 390 and 588 are partially accessible (Figure 2B
).

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Figure 2. Antibody-mediated inhibition of binding of LDL to
the LDLr and the binding of anti-apoB mAbs to receptor-bound LDL. A,
Newly generated mAbs were tested for their ability to inhibit the
binding of 125I-LDL to the LDLr on cultured human
fibroblasts. Several mAbs that were previously shown39 to
block (4G3, 5E11, and 3A10) or not block (1D1) binding of LDL to the
LDLr were included in the assays. Results are presented as the
125I-LDL bound in the presence of mAb as a percentage of
LDL bound in the absence of mAb. B, 125I-mAbs were also
tested for their ability to bind to LDL that was bound to the LDLr of
cultured human fibroblasts. Details for the calculation of the
stoichiometry of binding have been described previously.39
All results are normalized to 2D8, whose epitope has been shown to be
fully exposed in LDL-LDLr complexes. Several other control mAbs whose
epitopes were previously shown to be either exposed (1D1) or
inaccessible (4G3 and 5E11) in LDL-LDLr complexes were also included in
the assays.39
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Immunoreactivity of LpB
To analyze how apoB conformation changes during the
intravascular metabolism of LpB, we have examined the
expression of apoB epitopes in VLDL, IDL, LDL, and LDL subfractions
isolated from the plasma of 6 normolipidemic individuals. The mean
compositional analysis of the isolated lipoprotein fractions
and LDL subfractions is presented in Table 2
. The LDL subfractions were further
analyzed by nondenaturing PAGE. The expected inverse relation
between LDL buoyant density and LDL particle diameter was observed (not
shown). We refer to the 1.019 to 1.028 g/mL, 1.028 to 1.040 g/mL, and
1.040 to 1.063 g/mL density subfractions as large, medium, and small
LDLs, respectively. The large, medium, and small LDL subfractions
contained 6±3%, 68±12%, and 26±8% of the total LDL apoB protein,
respectively. Compared with large and medium LDLs, the small LDLs are
depleted in cholesteryl ester and relatively enriched in
triglycerides. Although there is slightly more apoE
associated with large LDL by SDS-PAGE, no significant differences were
seen between the 3 subfractions in their ability to bind to the LDLr on
cultured human fibroblasts (results not shown). Furthermore, binding
was not influenced by the inclusion of a mAb that blocks apoE-mediated
lipoprotein binding to the LDLr.
Immunoreactivities of VLDL, IDL, LDL, and LDL subfractions in each
subject were examined by solid-phase competitive radioimmunoassay with
the use of 29 mAbs specific for epitopes that range from the amino
terminus to the carboxy terminus of apoB-100 (Figure 1
).
Representative competition curves for 2 of the mAbs,
1D1 and 4H11, are presented in Figures II and III,
respectively, which are published online only
(http://atvb.ahajournals.org). The immunoreactivities for all the mAbs
are shown in Figure 3
. Because the
individual mAbs differ considerably in their respective binding
affinities for LpB, for presentation purposes, we have
normalized the ED50 value to that of LDL of each
subject, to which we have given a value of 1. Most of the epitopes that
we have analyzed were not differentially expressed in the
different lipoprotein fractions. In contrast, 2 epitopes, 4H11 and 6O5,
situated between residues 4342 and 4536, were
3 times more reactive
in LDLs than in VLDLs or in IDLs. Similarly, 2 mAbs, 278 and 4G3, which
mutually compete for binding to immobilized LDLs and whose
epitope(s) is situated in the region of apoB residue 3000, show higher
reactivity with LDLs than with VLDLs or IDLs.

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Figure 3. Reactivities of 29 anti-apoB mAbs with
VLDL, IDL, and LDL. A, Immunoreactivity of VLDL, IDL, and LDL from 6
normolipidemic subjects determined in a solid-phase immunoassay with a
panel of 29 anti-apoB mAbs. Results are expressed as relative
ED50, the concentration of competitor required to reduce
binding to 50% of that occurring in the absence of competitor. The
ED50 value obtained with LDL was normalized to unity. A
paired t test was used to determine the significance of
differences observed in the immunoreactivity between lipoprotein
classes. For mAbs 605, 4H11, 4G3, and 278, there are significant
differences in immunoreactivity between VLDL or IDL and LDL (for
mAb 605, P<0.001 for VLDL vs LDL,
P<0.0005 for VLDL vs LDL, and P=NS for
VLDL vs IDL; for mAb 4H11, P<0.01 for VLDL vs LDL,
P<0.005 for IDL vs LDL, and P=NS for
VLDL vs IDL; for mAb 4G3, P<0.01 for VLDL vs LDL,
P<0.01 for VLDL vs LDL, and P=NS for
VLDL vs IDL; and for mAb 278, P<0.05 for VLDL vs LDL,
P<0.05 for IDL vs LDL, and P=NS for VLDL
vs IDL). B, Distribution of epitopes within domains defined by the
pentapartite model of apoB structure.23 24
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The large, medium, and small LDL subfractions were similarly
analyzed for differential expression of apoB epitopes, and the
immunoreactivities are presented in Figure 4
. Again, to facilitate
presentation of the results, the ED50
values for the subfractions from each subject were calculated relative
to the ED50 value for the medium LDL, which was
assigned a value of 1. Only the epitopes 4H11 and 6O5 were
differentially expressed, with the large LDL being less immunoreactive
than the medium and small LDL.

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Figure 4. Reactivities of 29 anti-apoB mAbs with LDL density
subfractions. A, Immunoreactivity of large, medium, and small LDLs from
6 normolipidemic subjects. The ED50 value obtained with
medium LDL was normalized to unity. The mAbs 605 and 4H11 showed
increased reactivity with small and medium LDLs compared with large
LDLs (P<0.001). No significant differences were found
between LDL subclasses for any of the other mAbs. B, Distribution of
epitopes within domains defined by the pentapartite model of apoB
structure.23 24
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Discussion
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Our results show that at least 2 specific regions of
apoB-100
undergo a major conformational change as LpBs are metabolized
in
the plasma of normolipidemic individuals. In the case of the
carboxy
terminus of apoB, as defined by the 6O5 and 4H11 epitopes,
this change
in conformation does not appear to be gradual but
occurs abruptly as
large buoyant LDLs (density 1.019 to 1.028
g/mL) are converted to
particles of density 1.028 to 1.040 g/mL.
This conclusion is based on
the observation that the 2 epitopes,
situated between residues 4342 and
4536, show an

3-fold higher
expression in total LDL compared with
VLDL and IDL (Figure 3

)
and in medium and small LDL subfractions
compared with larger
more buoyant LDL (Figure 4

). Chen et
al
15 have also recently
proposed that apoB undergoes a
conformational change at this
stage in the intravascular
metabolism of LpB. They have shown
that there are major
differences in the accessibility of protease-sensitive
sites in
apoB-100 between LpB <1.033 and LpB >1.033. These
include
Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease-sensitive sites at
residues
1288 and 3199 and cathepsin Dsensitive sites at residues
2702
and 2666/2669. The concomitant change in the 6O5 and 4H11 epitope
expression
and in the accessibility of different protease-sensitive
sites
may reflect a global, rather than a local, conformational change
of
apoB as large buoyant LDL are converted to smaller denser particles.
If
this were the case, it is nevertheless surprising that such
an
alteration in the overall apoB conformation was not detected
by any of
the other 27 mAbs used in the present study. It has
been recently
proposed that (on theoretical grounds alone) apoB
must adopt different
conformations in different LDL subspecies
but that it may be the
tertiary structure of apoB that is predominantly
modulated as a
function of LDL size, with the secondary structure
left largely
unchanged.
12 In fact, circular dichroic measurements
revealed
no significant differences in

-helical content among the
LDL
subclasses that were analyzed in the present study (X.
Wang,
T. Neville, D. Sparks, R. Milne, unpublished data, 1999).
Changes
in tertiary structure could potentially include domain shifts
that
may not be manifested as changes in the immunoreactivity of
epitopes
located within domains but may be detected by markers specific
for
interdomain linker regions that could include protease-sensitive
sites.
It should be noted that none of the mAbs in the present
panel
is specific for epitopes that coincide with the
protease-sensitive
sites reported by Chen et al.
15 The
region of the carboxy terminus
of apoB-100 that includes the 6O5 and
4H11 epitopes has been
shown to have a high affinity for
lipid
22 and a predicted amphipathic

-helical structure
(Figure 1

).
23 24
In addition to the mAbs that are specific for epitopes near the carboxy
terminus of apoB, mAbs 278 and 4G3 also showed differential reactivity
with VLDL, IDL, and LDL. The major change in the expression of the 278
and 4G3 epitopes would appear to occur as IDLs are converted to LDLs.
From the predicted apoB secondary structure, the 278 and 4G3 epitopes
are located in regions that adopt a predominantly amphipathic ß
structure (Figure 1
).23 24 These amphipathic ß
domains of apoB have been proposed to bind irreversibly to
lipid.23 It has been demonstrated that when expressed in
rat hepatoma cells as apoB/apoA-I fusion proteins, the amphipathic ß
sequences are sufficient for recruitment of triglyceride
into VLDL-like particles.36 Furthermore, because neutral
lipid is necessary for the expression of epitopes located in these
regions,42 it would appear that the amphipathic ß
domains are intimately associated with the neutral lipid core of LpB.
Two epitopes that have been mapped to a region (residues 1328 to 1878)
that is also predicted to have an amphipathic ß secondary structure
tended to be more reactive in LDLs than in VLDLs, although this did not
reach statistical significance. Because the amphipathic ß domains
appear to be tightly associated with the neutral lipid core of the
lipoprotein, the change in immunoreactivity of epitopes in these
domains could reflect the alterations in the core that occur during the
intravascular metabolism of VLDL.
Apart from the change in immunoreactivity of the 6O5, 4H11, 4G3, and
278 epitopes, the majority of apoB epitopes are remarkably independent
of their lipoprotein environment. Several of the mAbs reported in the
present study have been previously used to examine changes in
epitope expression in LpB subfractions of moderately
hypertriglyceridemic patients. In the
previous study, expression of the 5E11 epitope was found to increase
progressively in LpB subfractions from VLDL1
(subfractions 100 to 400) through LDL because of an increase in the
apparent affinity of the mAb.7 Changes in 5E11
immunoreactivity were not observed in the present study, nor was
there differential expression of the overlapping/adjacent epitopes,
MB47 and 588. The apparently contradictory results for the 5E11 epitope
may reflect differences between LpBs isolated from normal and
hypertriglyceridemic individuals. It should
also be noted that several of the mAbs (2D8, 3F5, and 4G3) have been
previously demonstrated to have reduced reactivity with the very small
dense LDLs that characterize subjects with
hyperbetalipoproteinemia.13
It is unclear whether the changes in epitope expression reported in the
present study are manifestations of the same changes in apoB
conformation that are responsible for the progressive increase in the
ability of apoB to mediate lipoprotein binding to the LDLr that occurs
as VLDL is converted to LDL.7 8 On the basis of previous
observations39 and the results presented in Figure 2
, it would appear that the 4G3 and 278 epitopes are close to
the apoB LDLr-binding site in native LDLs. Thus, conversion of VLDLs to
LDLs could lead to an increased accessibility or an altered
conformation of the region of apoB that includes the LDLr-binding site
and the 4G3 and 278 epitopes. Unlike 4G3 and 278, other epitopes (390,
3G9, 5E11, and MB47) that are also close to the LDLr-binding site are
expressed similarly in VLDLs, IDLs, and the LDL subfractions. The 2
epitopes that show the greatest and most reproducible changes in
expression between the LpB density fractions, 4H11 and 605, are located
near the carboxy terminus of apoB. Both epitopes are accessible in
LDL-LDLr complexes, and neither mAb 4H11 nor mAb 6O5 blocks the binding
of LDL to the LDLr. Furthermore, the change in expression of the 4H11
and 6O5 epitopes occurs as large LDLs are converted to medium LDLs,
whereas we observed no differences between large and medium LDLs in
terms of apoB-mediated binding to the LDLr. Nevertheless, the region of
apoB primary structure that includes the 4H11 and 6O5 epitopes is
thought to be close to the apoB LDLr-binding site in native apoB and
has been proposed to be a negative regulator of apoB-mediated binding
to the LDLr.20 43 44 Recently, Borén et
al44 have shown that VLDLs from apoE-deficient mice that
carry a human apoB-80 transgene can bind to the LDLr with relatively
high affinity, whereas VLDLs from apoE-deficient human apoB-100
transgenic mice bind poorly. A model has been proposed in which lateral
movement of the extreme carboxy terminus of apoB on the surface of the
LpB that occurs during conversion of VLDLs to LDLs would expose the
apoB LDLr-binding site.20 44 The increase in the
immunoreactivity of mAbs 6O5 and 4H11 as large LDLs are converted to
medium LDLs may also result from the same putative apoB conformational
change.
We have previously proposed that the portion of apoB primary structure
that is closely associated with the cell surface during binding of apoB
to the LDLr is limited to a region bounded by apoB residues 3000 to
4000.39 This is based on the observation that the epitope
of mAb 3F5 (residues 2835 to 2922) is totally accessible in LDL-LDLr
complexes, whereas that of mAb 4G3 (residues 2980 to 3084) is not.
Similarly, whereas the epitope for MB43 (residues 4027 to 4081) is only
partially accessible, that of mAb Bsol16
(residues 4154 to 4189) is fully accessible. Seventeen other epitopes
situated elsewhere within the apoB primary structure were also fully
accessible. Therefore, an interesting observation to emerge from our
characterization of the new panel of mAbs is that mAb 588, specific for
an epitope situated between apoB residues 3687 to 4081, could partially
block the binding of LDL to the LDLr and that its epitope is partially
accessible in LDL-LDLr complexes. We further demonstrate partial mutual
competition between mAb 588 and mAb 5E11 (residues 3441 to 3506) for
binding to immobilized LDL, whereas 588 and MB43 do not
complete. Thus, mAb 588 further defines the region of apoB primary
structure that is in close contact with the cell surface in LDL-LDLr
complexes. It has recently been shown that basic amino acids between
apoB residues 3359 to 3369 are necessary for the apoB-LDLr
interaction.44
In summary, our immunochemical analysis of LpB density
subfractions has shown that in spite of major differences in the
physical and chemical properties of the lipoproteins, the apoB
conformational changes that can be detected by altered epitope
expression are localized to limited well-defined regions within apoB
structure. Assuming that the density fractions that were
analyzed represent discrete intermediates in the
intravascular metabolism of LpB, it would appear that there
is a progressive increase in the expression of the 2 epitopes that are
close to the apoB LDLr-binding site as VLDLs are converted to LDLs. In
addition, a change in apoB conformation occurs as large buoyant LDL are
converted to smaller less buoyant particles; this conformational change
is detectable by the altered expression of epitopes near the carboxy
terminus of apoB. Because this is coincident with altered accessibility
of protease-sensitive sites elsewhere in the apoB
structure,15 it could represent a major change in
the configuration of the apoB polypeptide on the LDL surface.
 |
Acknowledgments
|
|---|
This study was supported by the Medical Research Council of
Canada
(PG-11471). Dr Pease is the recipient of an Intermediate
Research
Fellowship from the British Heart Foundation. We wish to thank
Drs
Roger McLeod and Zemin Yao for providing human apoB-transfected
rat
hepatoma cell lines, Drs Stephen Young, Linda Curtiss, Joseph
Witztum
(MB43, MB47), and Jean-Charles Fruchart (B2, B4) for
monoclonal
antibodies, and Dr Yves Marcel for critically reading
the
manuscript.
Received September 28, 1999;
accepted January 18, 2000.
 |
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