ANALYSIS OF THE LIPOPROTEIN BINDING-SITE OF RAT-LIVER MEMBRANES

Intermediate density lipoproteins (IDL) were shown to bind to high- and low-affinity binding sites an rat liver membranes. The low-affinity sites were named lipoprotein binding sites (LBS), since they bind all classes of lipoproteins. This study was undertaken to further characterize the interaction of I-125-labelled IDL with the LBS of rat liver membranes to determine the chemical nature of the LBS. We found that the binding of IDL to the LBS is insensitive to EDTA and sensitive to heparin and that it is present on plasma membranes. Also, membranes were pretreated with various enzymes that have an effect on the membrane constituents, and the activity of the LBS on these treated membranes was determined. Our results reveal that the LBS of rat liver membranes is insensitive to heparinase I, chondroitinase ABC, and phospholipase C, while it is partially sensitive to phospholipase A, and sensitive to proteases and heat. Rat liver membrane proteins were solubilized with Triton X-100, reconstituted in liposomes, and analyzed for their ability to bind lipoproteins. I-125-labelled IDL were shown to bind to high- and low-affinity sites that are similar, in affinity and specificity, to the ones observed with intact rat liver membranes, indicating that a LBS activity is detectable on these liposomes. We found that the binding capacity of low-affinity sites in liposomes containing either no protein or containing proteins solubilized from Escherichia coli membranes is five times weaker than low-affinity sites in liposomes containing liver membrane proteins. Thus, a protein solubilized from rat liver membranes has LBS activity when reconstituted in liposomes. Taken altogether our results provide new information on the binding of IDL to the LBS and indicate that the LBS activity is in part mediated by a protein. Thus, the LBS appears to be a bona fide receptor.