Purification and Characterization of Lecithin:Cholesterol Acyltransferase

Abstract
The purification of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) from human plasma is reported. Hydroxylapatite fractions were approximately 16,000 fold purified over the starting plasma and were free of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and albumin. The enzyme showed one band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, SDS-urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, and one arc in immunodiffusion against a goat antiserum preparation. It was determined to be a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of approximately 70,000 and a pi of 3.7-4.0.