Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPG) appear to contribute to retention of low density lipoproteins (LDL) in atherosclerotic lesions. In vitro, CSPG and glycosaminoglycans (GAG) modify LDL structure and increase its uptake by macrophages. This latter effect appears related to increased exposure of arginine- and lysine-rich segments of apoB-100. We explored whether alterations of LDL induced by human arterial CSPG and purified GAG alter the lipoprotein susceptibility to transition metals-catalyzed oxidation. Human LDL was complexed with human arterial CSPG and dissociated by raising the ionic strength. The nonaggregated, CSPG- and GAG-treated LDL was subjected to oxidation by micromolar amounts of Cu+, Cu2+, Fe2+, and Fe3+. This treatment increased LDL susceptibility to Cu2+ oxidation 3- to 5-times, as indicated by the degradation rate of phospholipids and cholesteryl esters and formation rates of dienes and thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances (TBARS). Also, human macrophages degraded the CSPG-treated, Cu2+-oxidized LDL 3- to 6-times faster than native LDL similarly treated. No enhancement of oxidation was observed with Fe2+, Fe3+, and Cu+. Quenching of the LDL intrinsic fluorescence by Cu2+ showed that heparin, CSPG, and chondroitin-6-SO4 pretreatment increased the access of Cu2+ to hydrophobic chromophores, probably tryptophan, 6- to 7-, 3- to 4-, and 2- to 3-fold, respectively. Also, the affinity constant (Ka) of LDL for Cu2+ was increased from 0.12 microM to 0.20 microM by the treatment with CSPG and GAG. These results and evaluation of the fraction of surface-accessible LDL chromophores to acrylamide quenching suggest that the increased susceptibility to oxidation may be associated with an increase in the access of Cu2+ to hydrophobic regions in LDL caused by treatment with CSPG and GAG. This effect was not detected with Cu+, Fe2+, or Fe3+. The phenomenon may contribute to acceleration of the oxidative modifications of LDL in cell culture models and in vivo.