title: Two genes in the rat homologous to human NKG2.
abstract: Two different lectin-like receptors for MHC class I molecules have so far been identified on natural killer (NK) cells, the Ly-49 homodimeric receptors in mice and the NKG2/CD94 heterodimeric receptors in humans. The recent identification of a rat CD94 orthologue implied that NK cell receptors equivalent to NKG2/CD94 also exist in rodents. Here we describe the cDNA cloning of two rat genes homologous to members of the human NKG2 multigene family. The deduced rat NKG2A protein contains a cytoplasmic immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif (ITIM), whereas the cytoplasmic tail of rat NKG2C lacks ITIM. The genes map to the rat NK gene complex and are selectively expressed by NK cells. The expression is strain dependent, with high expression in DA and low in PVG NK cells, correlating with the expression of rat CD94. Ly-49 genes have previously been identified in the rat, and the existence of rat NKG2 genes in addition to a CD94 orthologue suggests that NK cell populations utilize different C-type lectin receptors for MHC class I molecules in parallel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Norway. s.f.berg@basalmed.uio.no
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dissen
authors.forename: I H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Westgaard
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fossum
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D051381:Rats; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D018076:DNA, Complementary; C527203:KLRB1 protein, human; C527054:KLRC1 protein, human; C527059:KLRC2 protein, human; C497869:KLRD1 protein, human; C527057:Klrc1 protein, mouse; C527060:Klrc2 protein, mouse; C497871:Klrd1 protein, rat; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell