Surface-core correlations in serum lipoproteins.

It has been found that the capacity of lipoproteins for binding Mn(II) ions is dependent on the arrangement of the lipoprotein core. A change in the molecular organization of the LDL core (thermotropic transition) is associated with the change on the lipoprotein surface. In HDL there is no thermotropic transition and no abrupt change of the binding capacity. The observed surface-core correlation might be an important link in understanding how dietary fat influences the lipoprotein metabolism.