Characterization of alternatively spliced transcript variants of CLEC2D gene
Germain, C.; Bihl, F.; Zahn, S.; Poupon, G.; Dumaurier, M.-J.; Rampanarivo, H.H.; Padkjær, S.ør.B.; Spee, P.; Braud, V.M.
Journal of Biological Chemistry 285(46): 36207-36215
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 1083-351X
PMID: 20843815
DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.179622
Accession: 052030489
Lectin-like transcript 1 (LLT1) encoded by CLEC2D gene is a C-type lectin-like molecule interacting with human CD161 (NKR-P1A) receptor expressed by natural killer cells and subsets of T cells. Using RT-PCR and sequencing, we identified several CLEC2D alternatively spliced transcript variants generated by exon skipping. In addition to the reported transcript variants 1 (LLT1) and 2, we identified a novel splice variant 4 and transcripts coding for putative soluble proteins. CLEC2D transcripts were detected primarily in hematopoietic cell lines and were found to be co-induced by the same activation signals. Although very low amounts of putative soluble CLEC2D protein isoforms could be produced by transfectants, CLEC2D isoforms 2 and 4 were efficiently expressed. By contrast to LLT1, which was detected on the cell surface, isoform 2 and 4 remained in the endoplasmic reticulum where they formed homodimers or heterodimers with LLT1. They failed to interact with CD161, leaving LLT1 as the sole ligand for this receptor. CLEC2D therefore uses gene splicing to generate protein isoforms that are structurally distinct and that have different biological activities.