Abstract: This chapter explains that the plasma lipids are usually classified into two main groups: free fatty acids and lipoproteins. The so-called free fatty acids do not, in fact, exist in the plasma in a free form but are always bound to albumin. Normally about 4–5 molecules of fatty acid are transported on each molecule of albumin and the complex so formed may be described as a special type of lipoprotein. Partial separation of the lipoproteins may be achieved by electrophoresis and, as a result, α- and β-lipoproteins can be distinguished depending on whether they fractionate with the α- or β-globulins. To these categories we may also add the chylomicrons which are of comparable density to the VLDLs but present in the plasma only after a fatty meal. It is important to realize that each classification includes a family of closely related proteins and that all lipoproteins of the plasma may not fit neatly into any one of the categories. Thus an intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL) has recently been described.
Publication Year: 1985
Publication Date: 1985-01-01
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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