Fast separation of the three main plasma lipoprotein classes by ultracentrifugation using vertical rotor and multiple discontinuous density gradient.

An ultracentrifugation technique for isolation of the various lipoprotein fractions using a vertical rotor is described. By the use of a multiple discontinuous density gradient, very low density lipoproteins, low density lipoproteins and high density lipoproteins are sharply separated, without contamination of other lipoproteins or albumin. Centrifugation time is 80 min. The densities, electrophoretic mobilities, electron microscopic appearance and chemical composition are those of the expected classes of lipoproteins. Two different gradients are used to enhance the separation of very low density lipoproteins from low density lipoproteins on one hand and high density lipoproteins from infranatant on the other.