Study of tryptophan lifetime fluorescence following low-density lipoprotein modification

Appl Spectrosc. 2013 Apr;67(4):379-84. doi: 10.1366/12-06780.

Abstract

In this paper we report the effects of the irradiation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) by ultra-short laser pulses to obtain in vitro alterations mimicking proatherogenic modifications occurring in vivo in LDL. The modifications by metallic ions (copper and iron) and ultra-short laser pulses were studied by fluorescence steady state and time-resolved lifetime measurements. The results demonstrate that the modifications caused by ultra-short laser pulses and by iron affect the tryptophan residues of apolipoprotein B-100 (Apo-B), slightly decreasing fluorescent lifetimes, with almost no modifications in pre-exponential factors, indicating preservation of structural properties around the fluorophore. On the other hand, oxidation by copper strongly affects the Apo-B protein associated with LDL. We describe a fast, inexpensive, and nondestructive fluorescence-based method that is readily accessible to provide the LDL particle characterization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anisotropy
  • Apolipoprotein B-100 / chemistry
  • Copper / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Iron / chemistry
  • Lasers
  • Lipid Peroxidation
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / chemistry*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence / methods*
  • Tryptophan / analysis
  • Tryptophan / chemistry*

Substances

  • Apolipoprotein B-100
  • Lipoproteins, LDL
  • Copper
  • Tryptophan
  • Iron