What is/are the molecular differences between HDL and LDL cholesterol?

Question

Why exactly is HDL-cholesterol good for us and LDL-cholesterol bad for us. It has been well-established that LDL-cholesterol is associated with atherosclerosis and that HDL-cholesterol helps remove excess LDL-cholesterol from the circulation. From a biochemical view, however, what is the difference between the molecules that causes this difference?

Answer 1

HDL = high density lipoprotein

LDL = low density

Density difference is due to amount of protein associated with molecule. HDL has more protein.

Here's a link to a pic:

http://biomedmeganuchs.weebly.com/hdl-vs-ldl.html

The main structural difference between LDL and HDLis their compositions. Approximately 50 percent of the weight of an LDL particle is cholesterol and only 25 percent is protein. High-density lipoprotein particles, on the other hand, consist of 20 percent cholesterol by weight and 50 percent protein.