title: Structure of the Ly49 family of natural killer (NK) cell receptors and their interaction with MHC class I molecules.
abstract: Natural killer (NK) cells are an essential component of the innate immunity toward tumors and virally infected cells. The function of NK cells is regulated by a precise balance between inhibitory and activating signals. These signals are mediated by NK cell receptors that bind either classical MHC class I molecules or their structural relatives such as MICA, ULBP, RAE-1, and H-60. Two separate families of NK cell receptors have been identified: the immunoglobulin-like family (KIR, LIR) and C-type lectin-like family (Ly49, NKG2D, and CD94/NKG2). Here we summarize the structure of Ly49 C-type lectin-like proteins hitherto solved (Ly49A, Ly49C and Ly49I) and their interaction with MHC class I molecules as determined by the co-crystal structure of Ly49A/H-2Dd and Ly49C/H-2Kb.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Largo Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy. nazzarenodimasi@sopedale-gaslini.ge.it
authors.forename: Nazzareno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dimasi
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moretta
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biassoni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D055630:Receptors, NK Cell Lectin-Like
chemical_list: D000950:Antigens, Ly; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; C408248:Ly49I antigen; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D055630:Receptors, NK Cell Lectin-Like