Electrophoresis of plasma proteins

In older literature these lipoproteins were referred to as -lipoproteins because they migrated with -globulins on electrophoresis of plasma proteins. Their role is to transport cholesterol to tissues where it may be needed for membrane structure or conversion into various metabolites such as steroid hormones. LDL provide the major carriers of plasma cholesterol in man although this is not the case for all mammalian species (section 5.3.5(i)). 

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