Microsomal triacylglycerol transfer protein prevents presecretory degradation of apolipoprotein B-100 - A dithiothreitol-sensitive protease is involved

The role of microsomal triacylglycerol transfer protein (MTP) in the secretion of apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB-100) has been studied using an inhibitor of MTP: 4'-bromo-3'-methylmetaqualone. In vitro, this compound inhibits trioleoylglycerol transfer between lipid vesicles mediated by MTP with an IC50 of 0.9 mu M whereas it does not inhibit the lipid transfer mediated by the cholesteryl ester transfer protein. In HepG2 cells, 4'-bromo-3'-methylmetaqualone inhibits the secretion of apoB-100 with an IC50 of 0.3 mu M, without affecting the secretion of several other proteins like apoA-I or albumin, Moreover, there is no accumulation of apoB-100 in treated cells. Oleic acid, which increases apoB-100 secretion, only slightly modifies the IC50 of 4'-bromo-3'-methylmetaqualone (0.5 mu M). The latter has no effect on the synthesis of major lipids within the cell, but decreases the secretion of triacylglycerol into apoB-100-containing lipoproteins. Pulse/chase experiments reveal that 4'-bromo-3'-methylmetaqualone acts on apoB-100 production either at the co-translational or post-translational level. The cysteine protease inhibitor N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal does not protect apoB-100 from the 4'-bromo-3'-methylmetaqualone effect but seems to be involved in a later step of apoB-100 intracellular degradation. By contrast, dithiothreitol can totally reverse the effect of the MTP inhibitor on apoB-100 production. The mechanism of MTP-mediated lipid assembly with apoB-100 is discussed.