IMMUNOLOGICAL EVIDENCE FOR PRESENCE OF B PROTEIN (APOPROTEIN OF BETA-LIPOPROTEIN) IN NORMAL AND ABETALIPOPROTEINEMIC PLASMA

  • 1 January 1967
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 8  (4) , 396-+
Abstract
The antigenicity of [beta]-lipoprotein that had been chemically altered by acetylation or arsanilation was compared with that of native [beta]-lipoprotein, of lymph chylomicrons, of plasma proteins with d > 1.21, and of plasma from patients with abetalipoproteinemia. Chemical alteration causes structural changes in [beta]-lipoprotein which render it immunologically identical with a protein that is present both in normal plasma and in plasma from patients with abetalipoproteinemia. This protein has been identified by immunoelectrophoresis as a [beta]-globulin which does not stain for lipid. It is presumed to be the lipid-free apoprotein of [beta]-lipoprotein (B protein). The findings suggest that abetalipoproteinemia is not due to inability to synthesize B protein, but might instead be due to a defect in the formation of the complete [beta]-lipoprotein macromolecule.