Identification and characterization of the gene for a novel c-type lectin (CLECSF7) that maps near the natural killer gene complex on human chromosome 12.

We report the identification and characterization ofa novel C-type lectin gene, named HECL (HGMW-ap-proved symbol CLECSF7), that maps close to the nat-ural killer gene complex on human chromosome12p13. Sequence analysis revealed a complete openreading frame of 549 bp comprising several putativeglycosylation and phosphorylation sites as well as aC-terminal C-type carbohydrate-recognition domain.Homology analysis revealed that HECL exhibits a sig-nificant degree of divergence from the natural killercell receptors that comprise the natural killer genecomplex. These natural killer cell receptors all belongto group V of the C-type lectin superfamily. HECL,however, is most closely related to the sole group IIC-type lectins reported to map near this region of thegenome, the murine Nkcl and Mpcl genes. Like Nkcl,HECL is expressed in a variety of hematopoietic celltypes and has a complete Ca 2؉-binding site 2. Despitethe presence of critical amino acids for sugar bindingin Ca 2؉-binding site 2, HECL does not seem to bindcarbohydrate. Moreover, HECL is the first non-recep-tor-like C-type lectin to map near the natural killergene complex.