Effect of apolipoproteins on the hepatic lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of human plasma high density lipoprotein2-triacylglycerols.

The effect of apolipoproteins on the hepatic lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of high density lipoprotein (HDL) triacylglycerols was studied in an in vitro system consisting of purified human post-heparin hepatic lipase, HDL2 and albumin. The apparent values of the Michaelis constant (Km) and maximal velocity (Vmax) for the hepatic lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of HDL2-triacylglycerols were 0.18 mM and 86 nmol free fatty acids released/mg hepatic lipase per min, respectively. The addition of purified human plasma apolipoprotein A-I, A-II, E, C-I or C-III2 (containing 2 mol of sialic acid) to HDL2 caused inhibition of hepatic lipase activity. At a 1:1 weight ratio of added apolipoprotein to HDL2-protein, inhibition was 50% for apolipoprotein E and over 75% for the other apolipoproteins tested. Inhibition of enzyme activity occurred with both the unfractionated HDL2 and the HDL which were reisolated by ultracentrifugation. The major alteration in the composition of the reisolated HDL was an increase in the protein to phospholipid ratio. Based on these results, we speculate on the possible role of the apolipoproteins in the metabolism of HDL2 by hepatic lipase.