Electroimmunoassay of a subunit protein in a macromolecular complex (apolipoprotein B in human plasma very low density lipoprotein); implications for other electroimmunoassay systems.

With an electroimmunoassay ("rocket") system for the apolipoprotein B component of the plasma very low density lipoprotein complex we obtained results which were similar to those obtained by a colorimetric tetramethylurea extraction method. Results were up to twice as high as those using radioimmunoassay. Low density lipoprotein containing apolipoprotein B as the only demonstrable protein component was used as the standard for these assays. This protein produced larger and higher rockets at pH 8.6 when the negative particle charge was increased by maleylation. The very low density lipoprotein complex has a higher negative charge at pH 8.6 than low density lipoprotein. These findings suggest that some apolipoprotein B in vary low density lipoprotein is not "recognised" by anti-apolipoprotein B antibodies, hence radioimmunoassay results are lower than those obtained with the tetramethylurea extraction method. The higher negative charge on very low density lipoprotein particles (compared with low density lipoprotein), as a factor tending to increase rocket area and height, is counterbalanced by reduced recognition by antiapolipoprotein B antibodies. The net result of these opposing tendencies is that the rocket electroimmunoassay of apolipoprotein B in very low density lipoprotein fortuitously gives valid results, under the specified assay conditions. We conclude that electroimmunoassays of complex proteins are not necessarily valid if protein subunits are used for standards. This has implications for the electroimmunoassay of other apolipoproteins.