Human plasma lipid exchange protein(s): a method for separation of donor and acceptor lipoproteins by heparin-Sepharose chromatography

The transfer or exchange of cholesteryl esters, triglycerides, and phospholipids between plasma very low (VLDL), low (LDL), and high (HDL) density lipoproteins is facilitated by specific lipid transfer proteins. The present report describes a method to separate donor and acceptor lipoprotein pools used in assays for lipid exchange activities. The method is based on the differential binding of lipoproteins to immobilized heparin. At 50 mM NaCl concentration, VLDL and LDL bind to heparin-Sepharose whereas greater than 85% of HDL is unretained; VLDL and LDL are than eluted with 300 mM NaCl, 2% sodium dodecyl sulfate with a recovery greater than 85%. The procedure is rapid and quantitative, as judged by a comparison to ultracentrifugation.