| Function
PCSK9 or Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin type 9 is a proteinase which is part of the cholesterol synthesis[1]. PCSK9 undergoes autocatalysis producing an active enzyme from its precursor. PCSK9 binds to EGF-A domain of the LDL receptor (LDLR) inducing its degradation. See details in Pro-protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9).
Relevance
Low levels of LDL receptor are a cause of hypercholesterolemia since LDLR removes LDL cholesterol from the blood. Thus PCSK9 is an important drug target as its level affects the amount of cholesterol in blood[2]. Inhibition of PCSK9 results in increased pathogen lipid clearance, decreased inflammatory response and improved septic shock outcome[3].
Structural highlights
- ↑ Piper DE, Jackson S, Liu Q, Romanow WG, Shetterly S, Thibault ST, Shan B, Walker NP. The crystal structure of PCSK9: a regulator of plasma LDL-cholesterol. Structure. 2007 May;15(5):545-52. PMID:17502100 doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.str.2007.04.004
- ↑ Seidah NG. Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and other pathologies. Curr Pharm Des. 2013;19(17):3161-72. PMID:23317404
- ↑ Walley KR, Thain KR, Russell JA, Reilly MP, Meyer NJ, Ferguson JF, Christie JD, Nakada TA, Fjell CD, Thair SA, Cirstea MS, Boyd JH. PCSK9 is a critical regulator of the innate immune response and septic shock outcome. Sci Transl Med. 2014 Oct 15;6(258):258ra143. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3008782. PMID:25320235 doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.3008782
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3D structures of PCSK9
Updated on 20-April-2026
Pro-protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), 2pmw, 2qtw, 8wfr – hPCSK9 – human
3bps, 2w2m, 3gcx – hPCSK9 + LDLR EGF-A
2w2n, 3gcw – hPCSK9 + LDLR EGF-A (mutant)
2w2o, 2w2p, 2w2q, 7kev, 7kfa – hPCSK9 (mutant) + LDLR EGF-A
2xtj, 3sqo, 4k8r, 5vl7 – hPCSK9 + antibody
3h42 – hPCSK9 (mutant) + antibody
6u26, 6u2n, 6u2p – hPCSK9 + inhibitor
6u2f, 6u36, 6u38, 6u3i, 6u3x – hPCSK9 + antibody + inhibitor
4nmx, 5vla, 5vlh, 5vkl, 5vll, 6xib, 6xic, 6xid, 6xie, 6xif, 7s5h, 8fpk, 8fpq, 8fvl, 8fvm, 8fvn, 8fvo, 8fvp, 8fvq, 8vdv – hPCSK9 + peptide inhibitor
6e4y, 6e4z, 6mv5 – hPCSK9 N terminal + antibody
7s5g – hPCSK9 + peptide + inhibitor
6u2f, 6u3i – hPCSK9 + antibody + peptide inhibitor
3m0c – hPCSK9 (mutant) + LDLR
3p5b, 3p5c – hPCSK9 + LDLR variant
4ov6 – hPCSK9 + adnectin
7anq – hPCSK9 C terminal + VHH minibody
6olz, 6om0, 6om7 – hPCSK9 in ribosome – Cryo EM
References
