The lysosomal proenzyme receptor that binds procathepsin L to microsomal membranes at pH 5 is a 43-kDa integral membrane protein.

Two lysosomal proenzymes, procathepsins L and D, bind to mouse fibroblast microsomal membranes at acidic pH. This membrane association is independent of the mannose-6-phosphate receptors and requires the presence of the N-terminal propeptides of the enzymes. We have identified the protein that specifically binds procathepsin L at pH 5. A 43-kDa membrane protein coimmunoprecipitated with procathepsin L at pH 5 but not at pH 7 when cells were denatured with detergents. Similarly, a 43-kDa integral membrane protein bound procathepsin L in three kinds of ligand blots at pH 5 but not at pH 7. A synthetic peptide containing the 24 N-terminal residues of mouse procathepsin L blocked the binding of procathepsin L to this integral membrane protein on ligand blots. These results indicate that the 43-kDa integral membrane protein is a lysosomal proenzyme receptor that specifically binds the procathepsin L activation peptide at acidic pH.