Structure of lipoprotein fractions associated with hypercholesterolemia

Low-density and high-density lipoproteins (LDL, HDL) are the main lipoproteins involved in cholesterol transport in the human body. Raised serum LDL-cholesterol levels result in excess deposition of cholesterol in tissues, leading to accelerated atherosclerosis and increased risk of premature coronary heart disease. Hypercholesterolemia, characterised by high levels of cholesterol in the blood, is due to a combination of environmental and genetic factors. The effect of composition and structure of lipoproteins in hypercholesterolemic patients is poorly understood. Understanding the relationship between lipoprotein structure and composition is key to unravel the specific role of various components in the development and/or prevention of hypercholesterolemia. Here we aim to use SANS to determine the structure of LDL and HDL from healthy individuals and hypercholesterolmic patients.