Structure of the gene (LRP1) coding for the human alpha 2-macroglobulin receptor lipoprotein receptor-related protein

The alpha 2-macroglobulin receptor or lipoprotein receptor-related protein (A2MR/LRP) is an amazingly large and multifunctional receptor. The active receptor protein is derived from a 600-kDa precursor, encoded by a 15-kb mRNA, cloned and sequenced in human, mouse, and chicken. We report here the cloning of the entire human gene (LRP1) coding for A2MR/LRP. The gene covered about 92 kb and a total of 89 exons were identified, varying in size from 65 bases (exon 86) to 925 bases (exon 89). The introns varied from 82 bases (intron 53) to about 8 kb (intron 6). In the introns, 3 complete and 4 partial Alu sequences were identified. In intron 44 a complex repetitive sequence posed a cloning problem since it was not retrieved from any genomic library screened. Interexon PCR from exon 43 to 45 yielded a fragment of 2.5 kb. Attempts to subclone this fragment yielded inserts ranging between 0.8 and 1.6 kb. Sequencing of 3 subclones with different-size inserts revealed a complex repetitive element with a different size in each subclone. In the mouse LRP gene this intron was much smaller, and no repetitive sequence was observed. In 18 unrelated individuals no difference in size was observed when analyzed by interexon PCR.