How a protein disrupts cholesterol regulation
February 5th, 2008 - 2:59 pm ICT by admin
Washington, February 5 (ANI): Scientists have uncovered the specific way by which a destructive protein destroys a molecule that removes bad cholesterol from the blood.
The practical benefit of this finding is that we can now search for new ways to lower cholesterol by designing targeted antibodies to disrupt this interaction, said Dr. Jay Horton, professor of internal medicine and molecular genetics and a senior author of the study, which appears online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
He says that the PCSK9 protein disrupts the activity of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), a key molecule that latches on to latches on to bad cholesterol in the bloodstream and removes it by drawing it into the cells.
According to him, the PCSK9 protein latch on to the LDL receptor, and thereby triggers a chain of biochemical reactions that leads to the destruction of the receptor. With fewer receptors available, more bad cholesterol remains in the bloodstream, says the researcher.
You want to have LDL receptors to clear LDL from the blood thats a good thing. So you dont want to have PCSK9; it normally functions in a harmful way, Dr. Horton said.
The researchers used X-rays bounced off crystals made up of both PCSK9 and a portion of the LDLR protein in their study, and identified small regions of each protein that attach to each other. Thereafter, they created a detailed structural model of the area.
It looks like those portions are absolutely essential for the interaction to take place, Dr. Horton said.
The researchers are now designing antibodies and small chains of peptides, the building blocks of proteins, which have the ability to jam the interaction between LDLR and PCSK9.
While statin drugs work by increasing the number of LDL receptors on cells, the researchers believe that a drug targeting PCSK9 may prevent the existing receptors from being degraded.
These studies suggest that inhibiting PCSK9s action may be another route to lowering LDL cholesterol in individuals with high cholesterol, said Dr. Horton. (ANI)
- Protein controls 'bad' cholesterol levels outside cells - Apr 17, 2009
- Scientists say Alzheimer's, Down syndrome, atherosclerosis linked - Jan 16, 2010
- Promising new target for developing cholesterol-lowering drugs identified - Nov 25, 2008
- New antibodies to combat Alzheimer's - Dec 12, 2011
- 'Bad cholesterol' also vital for health - May 06, 2011
- Statin can prevent strokes, besides lowering lipids - Jan 05, 2012
- Biomarker can nip hardening of arteries in the bud - Jan 22, 2012
- Specially designed RNA reduces bad cholesterol by two-thirds - Aug 12, 2008
- Gene linked to high cholesterol in blood found - Sep 16, 2010
- How chocolates protect against heart disease - Feb 08, 2011
- Routine periodic fasting good for health, heart - Apr 04, 2011
- Eat nuts to improve cholesterol levels - May 11, 2010
- Eating apples every day keep women's cholesterol at bay - Apr 13, 2011
- Eat nuts to bring down cholesterol levels - May 11, 2010
- 'Good' cholesterol drug may help diabetics - Jul 19, 2011
Tags: bad cholesterol, biochemical reactions, bloodstream, building blocks of proteins, dr horton, dr jay, drugs work, internal medicine, jay horton, ldl receptor, ldl receptors, low density lipoprotein, molecular genetics, national academy of sciences, peptides, proceedings of the national academy, proceedings of the national academy of sciences, statin drugs, ways to lower cholesterol, x rays