Spatial structure of discoidal high density lipoproteins

The paper reviews the data on spatial structure of discoidal high density lipoproteins. At present discoidal lipoproteins reconstituted in vitro from apolipoprotein A-I and synthetic phospholipids are the most well studied. Recently many data have been obtained on the role of each domain of apoA-I molecule in the particle formation, its activation of lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase and its interaction with cellular membranes. These resultes were obtained due to synthesis of mutant apolipoproteins A-I with different variants of primary structure. Although several alternative models of the discoidal particle were proposed, each describing some known properties of the particles, there is no an universal model. Perhaps, more effective physical methods are necessary for more detailed study of the disc structure.