Gene structure of the murine NK cell receptor 2B4: presence of two alternatively spliced isoforms with distinct cytoplasmic domains

• Published in: European journal of immunology 1999-08, Vol.29 (8), p.2392-2399
• Main Authors: Stepp, Susan E., Schatzle, John D., Bennett, Michael, Kumar, Vinay, Mathew, Porunelloor A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 2^AB4 antigen; 2B4 receptor; 2B4-L protein; Alternative Splicing; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Antigens, CD; Base Sequence; Cell Line; Cloning, Molecular; Cytoplasm - chemistry; DNA Primers - genetics; DNA, Complementary - genetics; Exons; g-Interferon; Gene expression; Gene structure; Humans; Introns; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Membrane Glycoproteins - chemistry; Membrane Glycoproteins - genetics; Membrane Glycoproteins - immunology; Mice; Molecular Sequence Data; NK Cell; Protein Isoforms - chemistry; Protein Isoforms - genetics; Protein Isoforms - immunology; Receptors, Immunologic - chemistry; Receptors, Immunologic - genetics; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Signal Transduction; Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family
• ISSN: 0014-2980; 1521-4141
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1521-4141(199908)29:08<2392::AID-IMMU2392>3.0.CO;2-R

The NK cell receptor 2B4 is expressed on the surface of all murine NK cells and a subset of T cells. Ligation of 2B4 with monoclonal antibodies increases target cell lysis and IFN‐γ production. 2B4 is the high‐affinity counter‐receptor for CD48 in mice and humans. 2B4‐L is a member of the CD2 subgroup of the immunoglobulin supergene family, which includes CD48, LFA‐3, CD84, Ly9 and SLAM. Here we describe 2B4‐S, a second 2B4 isoform, and the genomic structure of the 2B4 gene. 2B4‐S is identical to the 5′ end of 2B4‐L, differing only at the 3′ end, corresponding to a portion of the cytoplasmic domain and the 3′ untranslated sequence. Both 2B4‐L and 2B4‐S are expressed on IL‐2‐activated NK cells. The genomic clone of 2B4 reveals that the two cDNA clones are products of alternative splicing. Since they differ only in a portion of the cytoplasmic domain, it is likely that they transduce different signals.