A Comparison of the Secretion of Two Components of Very Low Density Lipoproteins by Perfused Rat Liver
The synthesis and secretion by perfused rat liver of the lipid and protein moieties of the α- and β-lipoprotein-containing components of the very low density lipoproteins was studied, following additions of [3H]palmitate and [14C]leucine to the perfusate. The lipid moieties of both components became labelled early in the perfusion, and had a pattern of labelling similar to that of their protein moieties. The protein of the α-lipoprotein component became labelled at the same time as the lipid. The appearance of the isotope in the β-lipoprotein component was delayed, but it then surpassed that of the α-lipoprotein component in both total radioactivity and specific activity. From these data a working hypothesis has been developed which suggests that the protein but not the lipid of the β-lipoprotein component is incorporated into very low density lipoprotein in the sequence in which it is synthesized, while the α-lipoprotein component is drawn randomly from a large pool.