Double pre-beta lipoprotein. Isolation and characterization of the two population of very low density lipoproteins by zonal ultracentrifugation.

Two electrophoretic populations of very low density lipoprotein are frequently observed in both normal and hyperlipidemic human sera. This gives the appearance of two pre-beta bands, called the "double pre-beta lipoprotein phenomenon." The slow and fast bands forming the double pre-beta lipoprotein were isolated by ultracentrifugation in the zonal rotor under rate flotation conditions. On the basis of the effluent position, the slow band showed a lower flotation coefficient than the fast one. The lipid and apoprotein composition of the two very low density lipoprotein populations isolated by zonal ultracentrifugation was in close agreement with those obtained by preparative agarose gel electrophoresis. The slow and fast pre-beta fractions had the same triglyceride fatty acid composition. Both fractions contained only higher molecular weight apo B-100, while the slow fraction was relatively enriched in apo E and apo C-III. Since the slow pre-beta fraction showed the typical properties of the remnant particle, studying this fraction could clarify the possible relationship between remnant lipoproteins and atherogenesis. Zonal rotor ultracentrifugation may be useful to characterize remnant particles in normal and hyperlipidemic subjects.