The carbohydrate composition of human apo low density lipoprotein from normal and type II hyperlipoproteinemic subjects.

The carbohydrate composition of the apoprotein from low density lipoprotein (LDL) of normal (average LDL cholesterol, 122 mg/100 ml) and type II hyperlipoproteinemic (average LDL cholesterol, 236 mg/100 ml) males was studied using gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of the methul glycoside derivatives. All samples containing detectable sinking pre-beta-lipoprotein were excluded from the study. The apo LDL from both groups of subjects contained mannose, galactose, N-acetyl-glucosamine and N-acetylneuraminic acid. Glucose and fucose were not found while trace quantities of galactosamine were detected. Although the quantities of galactose and N-acetylglycosamine were the same in the two groups, lower quantities of mannose (p less than or equal to 0.01) and N-acetylneuraminic acid (p less than or equal to 0.05) were found in the type II patients as opposed to normal subjects.