Activation of lipoprotein lipase by N-alpha-palmitoyl (56-79) fragment of apolipoprotein C-II.

The effect of apolipoprotein C-II (apoC-II) and a synthetic fragment of apoC-II corresponding to residues 56-79 on the lipoprotein lipase (LpL) catalyzed hydrolysis of trioleoylglycerol in a monolayer of egg phosphatidylcholine and of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine vesicles was examined. Synthetic peptide 56-79, which does not associate with lipid, did not activate LpL at surface pressures greater than 30 mN/m; apoC-II is active up to 34 mN/m. However, acylation of the NH2-terminus of peptide 56-79 with palmitoyl chloride gave nearly identical LpL activating properties as compared to apoC-II. We conclude that at high surface pressures the lipid-binding region of apoC-II (residues 44-55) plays an essential role in LpL activation.