Class BI and CI scavenger receptors

An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a scavenger receptor protein having the sequence of Sequence ID No. 3.

An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein with the amino acid sequence shown in Sequence ID No. 4.

A method for screening for a compound which alters the binding of scavenger receptor protein type BI comprising

• providing an assay for binding of low density lipoprotein or modified low density lipoprotein to the scavenger receptor protein,
• adding the compound to be tested to the assay, and
• determining if the amount of modified low density lipoprotein or low density lipoprotein which is bound to the scavenger receptor protein is altered as compared to binding in the absence of the compound to be tested.

A method for removing low density lipoprotein from patient blood comprising reacting the blood with immobilized scavenger receptor protein type B, wherein the scavenger receptor protein type BI is encoded by a nucleotide molecule hybridizing to SEQ ID Nos. 3 and 7 under moderately stringent hybridization conditions at a temperature of approximately 25° C. below the melting temperature of a perfectly base-paired double-stranded DNA molecule consisting of SEQ ID NO:3 or 7 and selectively binds to low density lipoprotein and to modified lipoprotein having the characteristics of acetylated low density lipoprotein in cell medium containing 10% serum, under conditions wherein the low density lipoprotein is bound to the scavenger receptor, wherein the binding of acetylated low density lipoprotein to the scavenger receptor protein type BI is inhibited by native low density lipoprotein.

A method for inhibiting uptake of lipoprotein or lipids by adipocytes comprising

• administering a compound selectively inhibiting binding of lipoprotein to the scavenger receptor protein type BI, wherein the scavenger receptor protein type BI is encoded by a nucleotide molecule hybridizing to SEQ ID Nos. 3 and 7 under moderately stringent hybridization conditions at a temperature of approximately 25° C. below the melting temperature of a perfectly base-paired double-stranded DNA molecule consisting of SEQ ID NO:3 or 7 and selectively binds to low density lipoprotein and to modified lipoprotein having the characteristics of acetylated low density lipoprotein, under conditions wherein the low density lipoprotein is bound to the scavenger receptor wherein the binding of acetylated low density lipoprotein to the scavenger receptor protein type BI is inhibited by native low density lipoprotein.

A method for screening patients for abnormal scavenger receptor protein activity or function comprising

• determining the presence of scavenger receptor protein type BI, and comparing the scavenger receptor for to determine if the quantity present or the function of the receptor is equivalent to that present normal cells.