A recombinant apo(a) containing 17 kringle 4 domains as well as the kringle 5 and protease domains of apo(a) was characterized by hydrodynamic studies and electron microscopy. Recombinant apo(a) is a monomer in solution with a molecular weight of 325,000 by sedimentation equilibrium and 320,000 by sedimentation and diffusion, and it is a highly asymmetric molecule with a frictional ratio of 2.2. In the electron microscope recombinant apo(a) is visualized as a flexible chain of domains approximately 800 A long. Sedimentation velocity studies also demonstrate that when it is mixed with LDL, recombinant apo(a) reversibly forms an Lp(a)-like complex with a 1:1 stoichiometry; moreover, complex formation is inhibited by 6-amino hexanoic acid. Hydrodynamic modeling and electron microscopy suggest that only a small portion of the r-apo(a) molecule interacts with the LDL and the rest of the chain extends into solution. Preliminary studies indicate that recombinant apo(a) also binds mouse LDL.