Lipidation of apolipoprotein A-I by ATP-binding cassette transporter (ABC) A1 generates an interaction partner for ABCG1 but not for scavenger recepto

The ATP-binding cassette transporters ABCA1 and ABCG1 as well as scavenger receptor BI (SR-BI) mediate the efflux of lipids from macrophages to apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and high density lipoproteins (HDL). We used RNA interference in RAW264.7 macrophages to study the interactions of ABCA1, ABCG1, and SR-BI with lipid-free apoA-I, native and reconstituted HDL with apoA-I:phosphatidylcholine ratios of either 1:40 (rHDL1:40) or 1:100 (rHDL1:100). Knock-down of ABCA1 inhibits the cellular binding at 4 °C of lipid-free apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) but not of HDL whereas suppression of ABCG1 or SR-BI reduces the binding of high density lipoproteins (HDL). but not lipid-free apoA-I. The degree of lipidation influences the interactions of rHDL with ABCG1 and SR-BI. Knock-down of ABCG1 inhibits more effectively the binding and cholesterol efflux capacities of lipid-poorer rHDL1:40 whereas knock-down of SR-BI has a more profound effect on the binding and cholesterol efflux capacities of lipid-richer rHDL1:100. Moreover, knock-down of ABCG1 but not SR-BI interferes with the association of lipid-free apoA-I during prolonged incubation at 37 °C. Finally, knock-down of ABCG1 inhibits the binding of initially lipid-free apoA-I which has been preconditioned by cells with high ABCA1 activity. The gained ability of initially lipid-free apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) to interact with ABCG1 is accompanied by its shift from electrophoretic pre-β- to -mobility. Taken together, these data suggest that the interaction of lipid-free apoA-I with ABCA1 generates a particle that immediately interacts with ABCG1 but not with SR-BI. Furthermore, the degree of lipidation influences the interaction of HDL with ABCG1 or SR-BI.

Iris Lorenzia, Arnold von Eckardsteina, Silvija Radosavljevica and Lucia Rohrer

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