title: The ever-expanding Ly49 gene family: repertoire and signaling.
abstract: The mouse lectin-related Ly49 family and the human killer cell Ig-like receptor (KIR) family represent structurally distinct, yet functionally analogous, class I MHC receptors that are expressed on natural killer cells and some T cells. The functional similarity of these two families has been borne out by the demonstration of identical signal transduction pathways associated with each receptor family. The Ly49 family therefore provides a useful model system to study the role of this dass of receptors in the regulation of the immune system. Recent data relating to the Ly49 repertoire in several mouse strains has revealed an additional evolutionary parallel between KIR and Ly49 receptor families. There is now an appreciation of the variation in the number and type of Ly49s expressed in different mouse strains, similar to the previously demonstrated differences in the number of KIR genes found in humans. This review summarizes the current members of the Ly49 gene family, their MHC class I recognition and associated signal transduction pathways.
authors.affiliation: Intramural Research Support Program, SAIC Frederick, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ortaldo
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: McVicar
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005810:Multigene Family; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D055630:Receptors, NK Cell Lectin-Like; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D000950:Antigens, Ly; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D055630:Receptors, NK Cell Lectin-Like; C490245:GEM protein, human; C088119:Gem protein, mouse; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins