Investigation of lipid peroxidation in human low density lipoprotein.

Human plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) exposed to oxygen saturated buffer becomes depleted of alpha-tocopherol within 3 to 6 hours. Thereafter, lipid peroxidation commences as evidenced by the loss of 18:2 (67 nmol/mg LDL) and 20:4 (12 nmol/mg LDL) and the concomitant formation of 4-hydroxynonenal (0.28 nmol/mg LDL) and fluorescent compounds. The major fluorophor in apo B of oxidized LDL has an excitation maximum at 355 nm and an emission maximum at 430 nm. A fluorophor with the same spectral properties is produced in apo B, if LDL is incubated with 4-hydroxynonenal, whereas malonaldehyde gives a fluorophor with excitation and emission maxima at 400/470 nm. Three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy proved to be an useful tool in analysing the complex fluorescence of apo B.