Lipoprotein(a)
is a type of low-density lipoprotein comprised of a large glycoprotein, apolipoprotein(a)
(apo(a)), which is covalently bound to apolipoprotein B (apoB) by a disulfide bridge. The apo(a) molecule is a member of the
plasminogen family and comprises a typical protease domain (P) linked to a chain of
structures known as kringles. The
protease domain is blocked and does not hydrolyze fibrin. The kringle chain is
highly variable in length, because one of its kringles, designated KIV-2, can
occur once or be repeated up to 40 or more times in different individuals. This
length polymorphism is inherited as a Mendelian trait.
