Diameter

Composition:
Cholesterol
Esterified
Free
Triacylglycerols
Phospholipids
Protein
A-1
B-100
B-48
C-II
E
Site of synthesis
Transport of
Transport to
Associated
Proteins/Enzymes

Chylomicrons

VLDL

LDL

HDL

Biggest

Big

Medium

Small

2%
1%

10-13%
5-7%

36-37%
8-10%

14%
6%

80-90%

46-65%

10-12%

5%

7%

13-23%

20-22%

25%

2%

5-12%

10-22%

50%
X

X
X

Intestine

Liver

Blood

Liver, Intestine

Dietary TG

Endogenous TG

Cholesterol

Cholesterol

Peripheral tissue

Peripheral tissue

Peripheral
tissue

FROM peripheral
tissue

LPL

LPL

LPL

ABCA-1

breaks TG into three fatty acids plus glycerol

PCAT
CETP
PLTP

Activates PCAT; ligand for HDL receptor

LDL receptor ligand
Chylo assembly & secretion
Activates LPL
Hepatic receptor ligand for chylo, LDL

Transfers cholesterol and phopholipids from

peripheral tissues to HDL
Converts cholesterol to cholesterol ester
Exchanges cholesterol ester on HDL for
triglyceride on VLDL
Exchanges triglyceride on HDL for
phospholipids on VLDL