Murine macrophage tumors are a source of a 260,000-dalton acetyl-low density lipoprotein receptor

Subcutaneous injection of murine macrophage cell line P388D₁ into syngeneic DBA/2 produced tumors, which upon solubilization with 40 mM octyl glucoside contained acetylated low density lipoprotein binding activity. The tumor-derived receptor specifically bound acetylated low density lipoprotein with an affinity of ~3 x 10^-8 M but did not bind low density lipoprotein or high density lipoprotein. It was identical in binding specificity, affinity, and Pronase sensitivity to the receptor in intact cells or that obtained from solubilized cultured cell membranes. Partial purification of the receptor was achieved by solubilizing tumors with 1% Triton X-100 followed by chromatography on polyethyleneimine cellulose. After elution with a NaCl gradient in the presence of octyl glucoside and association with liposomes, a 287-fold purification of the receptor was achieved. The receptor was identified by specific ligand blotting as a 260,000-dalton protein having a pI of approximately 6.0. Binding to the receptor by acetylated low density lipoprotein, malondialdehyde-modified low density lipoprotein, and maleic anhydride-modified serum albumin was demonstrated by ligand blotting. A single receptor protein can, therefore, account for the binding of multiple types of charge-modified lipoprotein and nonlipoprotein ligands to the macrophage cell surface.