Large-Scale Lipoprotein Lipase Purification from Adipose Tissue

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) plays a central role in lipoprotein metabolism. LPL is the major enzyme responsible for the hydrolysis of triglycerides in VLDL and chylomicrons. Following hydrolysis of the triglyceride core of lipoproteins, some of the LPL molecules remain associated with chylomicron remnants and intermediate density lipoproteins (IDL) derived from VLDL. There is now accumulating evidence that these lipase molecules may play a role in the removal of chylomicron remnants and IDL by the liver and other tissues (1 –4 ). This second function of LPL is independent of its catalytic activity.