PCSK9 (human) Polyclonal Antibody

Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9) is a member of the subtilisin serine protease family with an important role in lipoprotein metabolism.¹ Mutation in the PCSK9 gene is associated with autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia which is characterized by an increase in low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels.² PCSK9 overexpression in wild-type mice doubles the plasma total cholesterol, possibly through acceleration of the degradation of the LDL receptor.^3,1 PCSK9 mRNA is detected in various tissues such as liver, kidney, lung, spleen, jejunum, ileum, colon, and muscle with the highest expression in the liver.⁴ Human PCSK9 precursor is 692 amino acids in length with an estimated molecular weight of 74 kDa. This proprotein is self-cleaved to form a mature protein at around 63 kDa in the golgi.⁵ Cayman’s PCSK9 polyclonal antibody detects mainly the mature form of the protein ranging from 62-66 kDa in tissues and cells such as liver, kidney, and colon cancer cells.

WARNING This product is not for human or veterinary use.

1. Maxwell, K.N., Fisher, E.A., and Breslow, J.L. Overexpression of PCSK9 accelerates the degradation of the LDLR in a post-endoplasmic reticulum compartment. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 102(6), 2069-2074 (2005).

2. Abifadel, M., Varret, M., Rabès, J.P., et al. Mutations in PCSK9 cause autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia. Nat. Genet. 34(2), 154-156 (2003).

3. Maxwell, K.N., and Breslow, J.L. Adenoviral-mediated expression of Pcsk9 in mice results in a low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout phenotype. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101(18), 7100-7105 (2004).

4. Seidah, N.G., Benjannet, S., Wickham, L., et al. The secretory proprotein convertase neural apoptosis-regulated convertase 1 (NARC-1): Liver regeneration and neuronal differentiation. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 100(3), 928-933 (2003).

5. Maxwell, K.N., and Breslow, J.L. Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9: The third locus implicated in autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia. Curr. Opin. Lipidol. 16(2), 167-172 (2005).

Benjannet, S., Rhainds, D., Hamelin, J., et al. The proprotein convertase (PC) PCSK9 is inactivated by furin and/or PC5/6A. Functional consequences of natural mutations and post-translational modifications. The Journal of Biological Chemisty 281(41), 30561-30572 (2006).