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Title: A retractable lid in lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase provides a structural mechanism for activation by apolipoprotein A-I

Journal Article · · Journal of Biological Chemistry
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [4]
  1. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
  2. MedImmune, Gaithersburg, MD (United States)
  3. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States); Monash Univ., Parkville, VIC (Australia)
  4. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States); Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (United States)

Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) plays a key role in reverse cholesterol transport by transferring an acyl group from phosphatidylcholine to cholesterol, promoting the maturation of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) from discoidal to spherical particles. LCAT is activated through an unknown mechanism by apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and other mimetic peptides that form a belt around HDL. Here, we report the crystal structure of LCAT with an extended lid that blocks access to the active site, consistent with an inactive conformation. Residues Thr-123 and Phe-382 in the catalytic domain form a latch-like interaction with hydrophobic residues in the lid. Because these residues are mutated in genetic disease, lid displacement was hypothesized to be an important feature of apoA-I activation. Functional studies of site-directed mutants revealed that loss of latch interactions or the entire lid enhanced activity against soluble ester substrates, and hydrogen–deuterium exchange (HDX) mass spectrometry revealed that the LCAT lid is extremely dynamic in solution. Upon addition of a covalent inhibitor that mimics one of the reaction intermediates, there is an overall decrease in HDX in the lid and adjacent regions of the protein, consistent with ordering. As a result, these data suggest a model wherein the active site of LCAT is shielded from soluble substrates by a dynamic lid until it interacts with HDL to allow transesterification to proceed.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Inst. of Health; American Heart Assoc. Scientist Development Grant; American Heart Assoc. Postdoctoral Fellowship; Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA
Grant/Contract Number:
HL071818; HL122416; AR056991; 13SDG17230049; 16POST27760002; 15POST24870001; F32HL131288
OSTI ID:
1438877
Journal Information:
Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 292, Issue 49; ISSN 0021-9258
Publisher:
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 24 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (7)

Identification and functional analysis of missense mutations in the lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase gene in a Chilean patient with hypoalphalipoproteinemia journal June 2019
Structural analysis of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase bound to high density lipoprotein particles journal January 2020
Determinants of pH profile and acyl chain selectivity in lysosomal phospholipase A 2 journal May 2018
LCAT Enzyme Replacement Therapy Reduces LpX and Improves Kidney Function in a Mouse Model of Familial LCAT Deficiency journal December 2018
Plasma lipoprotein-X quantification on filipin-stained gels: monitoring recombinant LCAT treatment ex vivo journal February 2019
Replication in bioanalytical studies with HDX MS: aim as high as possible journal May 2015
Molecular basis for activation of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase by a compound that increases HDL cholesterol journal November 2018