Natural killer cells express clonally distributed receptors specific for major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-C-specific receptors have been molecularly identified and cloned. They exist not only as inhibitory (p58) but also as activatory (p50) receptors. Here we show that p50 and p58 are highly homologous in their extracellular regions formed by two Ig-like domains. In contrast, major differences exist in their transmembrane and cytoplasmic portions. Whereas p 58 displays a 76-84-amino acid cytoplasmic tail containing an unusual antigen receptor activation motif, p50 is characterized by a shorter 39-amino acid tail. In addition, whereas p58 has a nonpolar transmembrane portion, p50 contains the charged amino acid Lys. These data strongly suggest that receptors with identical HLA-C allele specificity can mediate functions of opposite sign owing to their different transmembrane/cytoplasmic portions.
Article|
February 01 1996
The human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-C-specific "activatory" or "inhibitory" natural killer cell receptors display highly homologous extracellular domains but differ in their transmembrane and intracytoplasmic portions.
R Biassoni,
R Biassoni
Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro e Centro Biotecnologie Avanzate, Genova, Italy.
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C Cantoni,
C Cantoni
Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro e Centro Biotecnologie Avanzate, Genova, Italy.
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M Falco,
M Falco
Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro e Centro Biotecnologie Avanzate, Genova, Italy.
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S Verdiani,
S Verdiani
Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro e Centro Biotecnologie Avanzate, Genova, Italy.
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C Bottino,
C Bottino
Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro e Centro Biotecnologie Avanzate, Genova, Italy.
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M Vitale,
M Vitale
Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro e Centro Biotecnologie Avanzate, Genova, Italy.
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R Conte,
R Conte
Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro e Centro Biotecnologie Avanzate, Genova, Italy.
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A Poggi,
A Poggi
Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro e Centro Biotecnologie Avanzate, Genova, Italy.
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A Moretta,
A Moretta
Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro e Centro Biotecnologie Avanzate, Genova, Italy.
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L Moretta
L Moretta
Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro e Centro Biotecnologie Avanzate, Genova, Italy.
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R Biassoni
Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro e Centro Biotecnologie Avanzate, Genova, Italy.
C Cantoni
Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro e Centro Biotecnologie Avanzate, Genova, Italy.
M Falco
Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro e Centro Biotecnologie Avanzate, Genova, Italy.
S Verdiani
Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro e Centro Biotecnologie Avanzate, Genova, Italy.
C Bottino
Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro e Centro Biotecnologie Avanzate, Genova, Italy.
M Vitale
Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro e Centro Biotecnologie Avanzate, Genova, Italy.
R Conte
Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro e Centro Biotecnologie Avanzate, Genova, Italy.
A Poggi
Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro e Centro Biotecnologie Avanzate, Genova, Italy.
A Moretta
Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro e Centro Biotecnologie Avanzate, Genova, Italy.
L Moretta
Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro e Centro Biotecnologie Avanzate, Genova, Italy.
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1996) 183 (2): 645–650.
Citation
R Biassoni, C Cantoni, M Falco, S Verdiani, C Bottino, M Vitale, R Conte, A Poggi, A Moretta, L Moretta; The human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-C-specific "activatory" or "inhibitory" natural killer cell receptors display highly homologous extracellular domains but differ in their transmembrane and intracytoplasmic portions.. J Exp Med 1 February 1996; 183 (2): 645–650. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.183.2.645
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