An apolipoprotein preferentially enriched in cholesteryl ester-rich very low density lipoproteins

One of the plasma apolipoproteins, rich in arginine and predominantly alpha-helical in conformation, is preferentially enriched in cholesteryl ester-rich very low density lipoproteins. The incidence of plasma lipoproteins that are enriched in the arginine-rich apolipoprotein appears to be a function of genetic, hormonal, and dietary factors and is high in hypothyroidism and type III hyperlipoproteinemia and in rabbits fed excess cholesterol. This apolipoprotein appears to be one of several involved primarily in the transport and metabolism of cholesteryl esters and/or cholesterol.