THYROXINE BINDING TO THE APOLIPOPROTEINS OF HIGH-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEINS HDL(2) AND HDL(3)

Four preparations of high density lipoprotein HDL2, five of HDL3, and purified apolipoproteins apoA-I, apoA-IV, and apoE were photoaffinity labeled with [I-125]T4 and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Gels were also immunoblotted with antiserum against apoA-I, apoA-II, apoA-IV, apoE, or apo(a), and the immunostained membrane was then autoradiographed. In HDL2, the two major radioactive bands migrated near the origin of the resolving gel and at 28-31 kilodaltons (kDa). The first band, stained by anti-apo(a) and anti-apoB-100, accounted for 40-96% of the total radioactivity and was attributed to lipoprotein(a), which is isolated in the same density range as HDL2. The second band, stained by anti-apoA-I, accounted for 1-57% [41-95% after correction for contaminating lipoprotein(a)] of the [I-125]T4 in the resolving gel. In HDL3, the major radioactive band was identified as apoA-I and contained 93-94% of the [I-125]T4 in the resolving gel. Minor radioactive bands in both HDL2 and HDL3 were identified as apoA-II (17-18 kDa), apoA-II monomer (7-10 kDa), apoE (36-38 kDa), and apoAII-apoE heterodimer (46 kDa). In addition, HDL3 contained apoA-IV (43 kDa). Photoaffinity labeling of isolated apoA-IV and apoE showed that each protein interacted with [I-125]T4. In both HDL2 and HDL3, photoaffinity labeling in the presence of unlabeled L-T4 (1-10 mum) showed inhibition, suggesting a K(d) in the micromolar range. This inhibition varied among different apo bands of the same HDL2 or HDL3 preparation and among the same bands of different preparations. Labeling in the presence of heparin or other inhibitors of T4 binding to plasma proteins (furosemide, diclofenac, and mefenamic acid) showed that HDL2-associated apoA-I was more sensitive to inhibition than HDL3-associated apoA-I. In conclusion, 1) HDL2 and HDL3 carry T4 mainly through apoA-I and secondarily through apoA-II and apoE. The inter- and intrasubclass variations in T4 binding and sensitivity to inhibitors can be explained by the known heterogeneity of HDL particles and possible differences in conformation of the apo. The findings reported here, that apo other than apoA-I and apoB exhibit saturable binding of T4, suggest that thyroid hormone-lipoprotein interactions may have even wider physiological implications than previously appreciated.