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Lipoprotein(a)-Cholesterol Assay by Lectin Precipitation

Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: N/A
Contract: N/A
Agency Tracking Number: 22346
Amount: $428,371.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 1995
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
5760 Austin Bridge Road, Suite
Salem, NH 03079
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Leo J. Seman
 (603) 894-1183
Business Contact
Phone: () -
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a cholesterol-rich particle that contributes to the total risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) when plasma levels are elevated. Elevated Lp(a) levels can be treated with niacin. Lp(a) differs from other lipoproteins by the presence of a glycoprotein, called apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)], which is present in numerous isoforms that vary by size and creates significant error in assays that measure Lp(a) mass. We will measure and standardize Lp(a) by its cholesterol content [Lp(a)-c], a relatively stable component of Lp(a) that does not vary with isoform size. Specifically, Lp(a) will be separated from other lipoproteins by a lectin precipitation process devised by the applicant. Lp(a)-C will be determined in the precipitin by standard enzymatic methods. Lectin binding is a rapid and inexpensive method to separate glycoproteins by variation in polysaccharide content. Measurement of Lp(a)-c introduces less error than Lp(a) mass, as a result it is more amenable to standardization and allows for direct comparison of Lp(a) to other lipoproteins because they are routinely measured by their cholesterol content. Preliminary data indicates a high correlation of Lp(a)-c with Lp(a) mass, utilizing a standardized cholesterol assay. This assay would provide an inexpensive test similar to HDL cholesterol, for the assessment of CHD risk.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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