Three-dimensional structure of low density lipoproteins by electron cryomicroscopy. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Human low density lipoproteins (LDL) are the major cholesterol carriers in the blood. Elevated concentration of LDL is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic disease. Purified LDL particles appear heterogeneous in images obtained with a 400-kV electron cryomicroscope. Using multivariate statistical and cluster analyses, an ensemble of randomly oriented particle images has been subdivided into homogeneous subpopulations, and the largest subset was used for three-dimensional reconstruction. In contrast to the general belief that below the lipid phase-transition temperature (30 degrees C) LDL are quasi-spherical microemulsion particles with a radially layered core-shell organization, our three-dimensional map shows that LDL have a well-defined and stable organization. Particles consist of a higher-density outer shell and lower-density inner lamellae-like layers that divide the core into compartments. The outer shell consists of apolipoprotein B-100, phospholipids, and some free cholesterol.

publication date

  • July 20, 1999

Research

keywords

  • Lipoproteins, LDL

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC17531

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0033587694

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1073/pnas.96.15.8420

PubMed ID

  • 10411890

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 96

issue

  • 15