Isolation of low density lipoprotein subfraction containing apolipoprotein B-like protein from Japanese eel Anguilla japonica plasma using dextran sulfate cellulose

Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) possessed a unique lipoprotein profile in their plasma, reflecting high utilization of lipids. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) fraction isolated at the densities from 1.006 to 1.085 g/ml comprised the heterogeneous components with molecular weight (Mr) 1200K, 470K, and 250K. LDL subfraction with Mr 1200K was completely adsorbed to dextran sulfate cellulose (DSC) column which had been developed for LDL apheresis treatment of the patients with familial hypercholesterolemia, while LDL subfrac tions with Mr 470K and 250K had no affinity for the DSC column. LDL subfractions with Mr 470K and 250K were floated and settled, respectively, by centrifuging the unbound fraction of DSC column at a density of 1.063 g/ml. LDL subfraction with Mr 1200K possessed apolipoprotein (ape) B-like protein of Mr 230K, while apo A-I- and A-II like proteins of Mr 25K and 14K were the main components in LDL subfractions with Mr 470K and 250K. The presence of apo B-like protein seemed to be responsible for the adsorption of LDL subfraction with Mr 1200K for the DSC column. LDL subfractions with Mr 470K and 250K seemed to belong to high density lipoprotein (HDL) with respect to molecular weights and apolipoprotein features. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the separation of LDL and HDL from the plasma of Japanese eels using the DSC column. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.