Elevated plasma Lipoprotein (a) is an independant risk factor for cardiovascular and peripheral vascular atherosclerosis. The structure of lipoprotein (a) is similar to low density lipoprotein with respect to lipid composition and the presence of apoprotein B. The pathogenicity (able to cause disease) of lipoprotein a as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease may depend upon its lysine binding sites (Hoover-Plow & Skocir, 1998). In a 1998 study, Molecular Cardiologists from the Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, examined the effects of biologically relevant enzymatic and chemical modifications of lipoprotein (a) on lysine binding sites (Hoover-Plow & Skocir, 1998). In this study it was found, that oxidation of lipoprotein (a) decreases lysine binding sites activity. It is well understood that lipoproteins are exquisitely sensitive to oxidation, and in turn, profoundly effects the the biological activites of lipoproteins.
Hoover-Plow, J. & Skocir, P. 1998. Enzymatic and chemical modifications of lipoprotein (a) selectively alters its lysine binding functions. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1392, 73-84.
