PCSK9

Chr 1

proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9

Crucial player in the regulation of plasma cholesterol homeostasis. Binds to low-density lipid receptor family members: low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), very low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR), apolipoprotein E receptor (LRP1/APOER) and apolipoprotein receptor 2 (LRP8/APOER2), and promotes their degradation in intracellular acidic compartments (PubMed:18039658). Acts via a non-proteolytic mechanism to enhance the degradation of the hepatic LDLR through a clathrin LDLRAP1/ARH-mediated pathway. May prevent the recycling of LDLR from endosomes to the cell surface or direct it to lysosomes for degradation. Can induce ubiquitination of LDLR leading to its subsequent degradation (PubMed:17461796, PubMed:18197702, PubMed:18799458, PubMed:22074827). Inhibits intracellular degradation of APOB via the autophagosome/lysosome pathway in a LDLR-independent manner. Involved in the disposal of non-acetylated intermediates of BACE1 in the early secretory pathway (PubMed:18660751). Inhibits epithelial Na(+) channel (ENaC)-mediated Na(+) absorption by reducing ENaC surface expression primarily by increasing its proteasomal degradation. Regulates neuronal apoptosis via modulation of LRP8/APOER2 levels and related anti-apoptotic signaling pathways

Primary Disease Associations & Inheritance

UniProtHypercholesterolemia, familial, 3
0
ClinVar variants
0
Pathogenic / LP
0.00
pLI score
12
Active trials
Clinical SummaryPCSK9
🧬
Gene-Disease Validity (ClinGen)
hypercholesterolemia, autosomal dominant, 3 · ADDefinitive

Definitive — sufficient evidence for diagnostic panels

Population Constraint (gnomAD)
Low constraint (pLI 0.00) — loss-of-function variants are relatively tolerated in the population.
💊
Clinical Trials
12 active or recruiting trials — potential therapeutic options may be available
Some data sources returned errors (2)

ncbi: Error: NCBI fetch failed: 429 https://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/esummary.fcgi

omim: Error: OMIM fetch failed: 429

Population Genetics & Constraint

gnomAD v4 — loss-of-function & missense intolerance

Tolerant — LoF & missense variants common in population
LoF Constraint?LOEUF (Loss-of-function Observed/Expected Upper bound Fraction) is the upper bound of the 90% CI for LoF OE — the preferred gnomAD v4 metric. Lower = more intolerant to LoF. LOEUF < 0.35 = highly constrained.
1.34LOEUF
pLI 0.000
Z-score 0.16
OE 0.97 (0.711.34)
Tolerant

Highly tolerant — LoF variants common in population

Missense Constraint?Missense Z-score: standard deviations fewer missense variants observed vs. expected. Z > 3.09 (p < 0.001) = gene does not tolerate missense variation. OE missense < 0.6 is also considered constrained.
0.27Z-score
OE missense 0.96 (0.891.04)
419 obs / 435.0 exp
Tolerant

Mild missense constraint

Observed / Expected Ratios?Shaded band = 90% confidence interval. Vertical tick = point estimate. Grey threshold line = gnomAD constraint cutoff for that variant class.
LoF OE?Ratio of observed to expected LoF variants. Upper CI bound (LOEUF) ≤ 0.35 = strong LoF constraint signal.0.97 (0.711.34)
00.351.4
Missense OE?Ratio of observed to expected missense variants. OE ≤ 0.6 = fewer missense variants than expected by chance.0.96 (0.891.04)
00.61.4
Synonymous OE?Control metric — synonymous variants are largely neutral and expected near OE = 1.0. Significant deviation may indicate annotation issues.0.91
01.21.6
LoF obs/exp: 26 / 26.9Missense obs/exp: 419 / 435.0Syn Z: 1.01

ClinVar Variant Classifications

0 submitted variants in ClinVar

Protein Context — Lollipop Plot

PCSK9 · protein map & ClinVar variants

Showing all ClinVar variants across the protein. Search a specific variant to highlight its position.

OMIM — Genotype-Phenotype

No OMIM entries found.

📖
GeneReview available — PCSK9
Authoritative clinical overview · NCBI Bookshelf · Recommended first read
Open GeneReview ↗
Clinical Literature
Landmark / reviewRecent case evidence
Key Publications
Landmark & review papers · by relevance
PubMed
Targeting PCSK9 to tackle cardiovascular disease.
Hummelgaard S et al.·Pharmacol Ther
2023Review
PCSK9 Inhibitors: Mechanism of Action, Efficacy, and Safety.
Roth EM et al.·Rev Cardiovasc Med
2018Review
PCSK9 in metabolism and diseases.
Ajoolabady A et al.·Metabolism
2025Review
Oral PCSK9 Inhibitors.
Agarwala A et al.·Curr Atheroscler Rep
2024Review
MK-0616: an oral PCSK9 inhibitor for hypercholesterolemia treatment.
Burnett JR et al.·Expert Opin Investig Drugs
2023Review
Top 10 resultsSearch PubMed ↗

Clinical Trials

Active and recruiting trials from ClinicalTrials.gov

Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Early-phase Study of ART002g1 Injection in HeFH: Safety, Tolerability and Preliminary Efficacy

NOT YET RECRUITING
NCT07353398Phase EARLY_PHASE1Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineStarted 2026-01-31
ART002g1 Injection
Type 1 Diabetes

Cholesterol Lowering and Residual Risk in Diabetes, Type 1

RECRUITING
NCT05641753Phase PHASE4NYU Langone HealthStarted 2022-12-06
Evolocumab CartridgeAtorvastatin Calcium TabletsEzetimibe Tablets
Elevated LDL-C and High Cholesterol

A Study of STX-1150 in Participants With Elevated Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C)

NOT YET RECRUITING
NCT07428473Phase PHASE1Monash UniversityStarted 2026-06-01
STX-1150
Hypercholesterolemia, FamilialHypercholesterolemia, Familial, 1Hypercholesterolemia, Familial, 2

Genetic Testing and Motivational Counseling for FH

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING
NCT04656028Phase NANational Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive MedicineStarted 2020-06-15
Genetic TestingMotivational CounselingLipid analysis
Heterozygous Familial HypercholesterolemiaPremature Coronary Heart Disease

A Study of VERVE-102 in Patients With Familial Hypercholesterolemia or Premature Coronary Artery Disease

RECRUITING
NCT06164730Phase PHASE1Verve Therapeutics, Inc.Started 2024-04-30
VERVE-102
LDL Hyper-responsiveness

A Study of Genetic Influence on LDL Hyper-responsiveness in Patients Following a Ketogenic Diet

RECRUITING
NCT07137286Mayo ClinicStarted 2025-09-11
Type 2 DiabetesInflammationInsulin Sensitivity/Resistance

Targeting Risk Factors for Diabetes in Subjects With Normal Blood Cholesterol Using Omega-3 Fatty Acids

RECRUITING
NCT04485871Phase NAInstitut de Recherches Cliniques de MontrealStarted 2019-12-19
Omega-3 fatty acids
Familial Hypercholesterolemia

EPIRUS FH Reverse Cascade Screening

NOT YET RECRUITING
NCT05825612Hellenic Atherosclerosis SocietyStarted 2023-05
Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Russian Familial Hypercholesterolemia Registry

RECRUITING
NCT02208869Russian Cardiology Research and Production CenterStarted 2014-01
Ornithine Transcarbamylase DeficiencyOrnithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency DiseaseOrnithine Carbamoyltransferase Deficiency (Disorder)

An Open-label Study to Investigate ECUR-506 in Male Babies Less Than 9 Months of Age With Neonatal Onset OTC Deficiency

RECRUITING
NCT06255782Phase PHASE1, PHASE2iECURE, Inc.Started 2024-04-08
ECUR-506
Coronary Artery DiseaseAtherosclerosis, Coronary

Latvian Early Atherosclerosis Registry

RECRUITING
NCT06393894Pauls Stradins Clinical University HospitalStarted 2019-04-01
Near infrared spectroscopyGenetic testing for LDLR, APOB, PCSK9 and LDLRAP1 mutations and niR-126, -145 and -155 expression.
Familial Hypercholesterolemia

EAS Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Studies Collaboration

RECRUITING
NCT04272697Imperial College LondonStarted 2015-03-22