title: Cutting edge: murine UL16-binding protein-like transcript 1: a newly described transcript encoding a high-affinity ligand for murine NKG2D.
abstract: Murine NKG2D is known to recognize H60 and five RAE1 variants. The human homologue recognizes both inducible MHC class I chain-related gene and constitutive (UL16-binding protein (ULBP)) ligands. Widely expressed, the latter are thought to mark transformed or infected cells for destruction by NK cells in the context of down-regulated cell surface class I (i.e., the "missing self"-response). Unlike MIC and ULBP however, mRNA for the murine ligands appears only in very limited contexts in the mature animal. In this study, we describe a NKG2D ligand termed "murine ULBP-like transcript 1 (MULT1) whose mRNA appears to be widely expressed in adult parenchyma. This molecule possesses MHC class I-like alpha1 and alpha2 domains as well as a large cytoplasmic domain. Recombinant MULT1 binds NKG2D with relatively high affinity (K(D) approximately 6 nM) and low k(off) (approximately 0.006s(-1)). Expression of MULT1 by normally resistant RMA cells results in their susceptibility to lysis by C57BL/6 splenocytes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Leonidas N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Carayannopoulos
authors.forename: Olga V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Naidenko
authors.forename: Daved H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Fremont
authors.forename: Wayne M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000276:immunology; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; C527085:KLRK1 protein, human; C527086:Klrk1 protein, mouse; D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell; C468260:UL16 binding protein 1, mouse