Lipoproteins: structure and metabolism

What you will learn

• Relate the amphiphilic structure of lipoproteins to density and function.
• Identify the apolipoproteins and receptors that direct each particle.
• Describe chylomicron, VLDL–IDL–LDL and HDL pathways, then explain atherogenesis.

Course outline

1. Transporting lipids through plasma

   Lipoproteins make hydrophobic cargo compatible with blood and give it a metabolic destination.

   12 min

2. Structure, density and five classes

   Protein proportion, size and cargo distinguish chylomicrons, VLDL, IDL, LDL and HDL.

   30 min

3. Apolipoproteins: structure, enzyme or address

   Each apolipoprotein stabilises a particle, regulates an enzyme or acts as a ligand for a precise receptor.

   34 min

4. Receptors: reading the particle address

   Each receptor recognises a precise apolipoprotein or state and directs uptake, transfer or efflux.

   28 min

5. Chylomicrons: distributing dietary triglycerides

   The intestinal particle delivers fatty acids to tissues and returns its cholesterol-rich remnant to the liver.

   30 min

6. VLDL, IDL and LDL: transforming hepatic cargo

   Progressive triglyceride removal converts VLDL into IDL and then cholesterol-rich LDL.

   30 min

7. HDL: building reverse cholesterol transport

   HDL collects cellular cholesterol, esterifies it, remodels and delivers it directly or indirectly to the liver.

   32 min

8. Regulating cholesterol and understanding atherogenesis

   The cell slows cholesterol synthesis and entry, but persistent LDL can be modified and trapped by macrophages.

   34 min

9. Reading the pathways as a transport network

   Origin, cargo, apolipoproteins and receptor reconstruct the journey of each particle.

   20 min