Improved method for non-denaturing polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis for detection of small-sized LDL produced during postprandial hypertriglyceridaemia

Abstract

A reliable method for detection of small-sized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) produced during transient hypertriglyceridaemia induced by ingestion of fat is described. Electrophoresis using a commercial non-denaturing 2.0-16% polyacrylamide gradient gel is commonly utilized to determine the size of LDL particles, but it failed to detect a minor change in LDL size induced during postprandial hypertriglyceridaemia. Detection of small-sized LDL was achieved by adjusting the polyacrylamide concentration. Electrophoresis using a non-denaturing 1.5-10% polyacrylamide gradient gel gave the best resolution for detecting small-sized LDL induced during postprandial hypertriglyceridaemia. This improved method may be useful for elucidating the underlying mechanism of production of small-sized LDL (small dense LDL) in subjects with chronic hypertriglyceridaemia.