Spherical high density lipoprotein (sHDL), a key player in reverse cholesterol transport and
the most abundant form of HDL, is associated with cardiovascular diseases. Small angle
neutron scattering with contrast variation was used to determine the solution structure of
protein and lipid components of reconstituted sHDL. Apolipoprotein A1, the major protein of
sHDL, forms a hollow structure that cradles a central compact lipid core. Three apoA1 chains
are arranged within the low resolution structure of the protein component as one of three …