Cells of an internalization-defective familial hypercholesterolemia mutant secrete low density lipoprotein receptors

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a congenital disorder of plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism resulting from the defect or malfunction of LDL receptors on the cell surface. In most cases of FH, LDL binding to the cell surface is disrupted, while in some special cases LDL binding to the receptors occurs normally but the internalization of the bound LDL is inhibited (internalization-defective type). We studied the biosynthesis and transport of the LDL receptor in cultured fibroblasts obtained from one of the internalization-defective mutants by using [35S]methionine labeling and detection with anti-LDL receptor antibody. The mutant cells synthesized LDL receptors with a molecular weight slightly smaller than normal as shown in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A large portion of the synthesized receptors was secreted into the medium while the other portion was associated with the cells. The apparent molecular weight of the receptors secreted into the medium was about 10 kDa smaller than that of the cell-associated receptors. The cell-associated form was converted into the secreted form following a prolonged incubation of the cells, showing the precursor-product relationship between the cell-associated and the secreted forms.