PMID: 17502100 , Related PDB id: 2PMW

Authors:

Piper DE, Jackson S, Liu Q, Romanow WG, Shetterly S, Thibault ST, Shan B, Walker NP

Title:

The crystal structure of PCSK9: a regulator of plasma LDL-cholesterol.

Journal:

Structure. 2007 May;15(5):545-52.

Abstract:

Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) has been shown to be involved in the regulation of extracellular levels of the low-density lipoprotien receptor (LDLR). Although PCSK9 is a subtilase, it has not been shown to degrade the LDLR, and its LDLR-lowering mechanism remains uncertain. Here we report the crystal structure of human PCSK9 at 2.3 A resolution. PCSK9 has subtilisin-like pro- and catalytic domains, and the stable interaction between these domains prevents access to PCSK9's catalytic site. The C-terminal domain of PCSK9 has a novel protein fold and may mediate protein-protein interactions. The structure of PCSK9 provides insight into its biochemical characteristics and biological function.