SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fluidigm has announced that the TOPAZ® system has been used to determine the structure of PCSK9 complexed with the EGF-A domain of the LDL receptor. PCSK9 is a protein that binds to LDL receptors and prevents them from removing LDL cholesterol in the blood. High levels of LDL cholesterol can cause the buildup of harmful plaques in arteries and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. The findings could lead to the development of new therapeutics for lowering harmful cholesterol. The full details of the structure are described in an article titled “Molecular basis for LDL receptor recognition by PCSK9”, published in the February 12, 2008 issue of PNAS.
