Apolipoprotein A-I conformation markedly influences HDL interaction with scavenger receptor BI

Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) is an important ligand for the high density lipoprotein (HDL) scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI). SR-BI binds both free and lipoprotein-associated apoA-I, but the effects of particle size, composition, and apolipoprotein conformation on HDL binding to SR-BI are not understood. We have studied the effect of apoA-I conformation on particle binding using native HDL and reconstituted HDL particles of defined composition and size. SR-BI expressed in transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells was shown to bind human HDL₂ with greater affinity than HDL₃, suggesting that HDL size, composition, and possibly apolipoprotein conformation influence HDL binding to SR-BI. To discriminate between these factors, SR-BI binding was studied further using reconstituted L-α-palmitoyloleoyl-phosphatidylcholine-containing HDL particles having identical components and equal amounts of apoA-I, but differing in size (7.8 vs. 9.6 nm in diameter) and apoA-I conformation. The affinity of binding to SR-BI was significantly greater (50-fold) for the larger (9.6-nm) particle than for the 7.8-nm particle. We conclude that differences in apoA-I conformation in different-sized particles markedly influence apoA-I recognition by SR-BI. Preferential binding of larger HDL particles to SR-BI would promote productive selective cholesteryl ester uptake from larger cholesteryl ester-rich HDL over lipid-poor HDL.