Download to Citation Manager

Cell Biology International (2007) 31, 1323–1330 (Printed in Great Britain)

PDF

Legacy HTML

Citing articles

Expression and localization of CHODLΔE/CHODLfΔE, the soluble isoform of chondrolectin

An Claessens^a, Koen Van de Vijver^b, Dirk R. Van Bockstaele^c, Jan Wauters^d, Zwi N. Berneman^c, Eric Van Marck^b and Joseph Merregaert^a*

^aLaboratory of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
^bLaboratory of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
^cLaboratory of Experimental Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp University Hospital, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
^dLaboratory of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium

Abstract

The C-type lectin family is a group of animal proteins which can be distinguished from other lectins by the presence of a Ca²⁺-dependent carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) in their protein sequence. They are classified into 17 groups according to their domain architecture and have a wide variety of functions. The human chondrolectin gene encodes transmembrane (CHODL, CHODLf) and soluble proteins (CHODLΔE, CHODLfΔE) belonging to the family of C-type lectins because of the presence of one CRD domain in their N-terminal region. The CHODL splice variants (CHODLf, CHODLΔE and CHODLfΔE) are differentially expressed in T lymphocytes. The transmembrane-containing isoform CHODLf is localized in the ER–Golgi apparatus. CHODLΔE and CHODLfΔE are devoid of the transmembrane domain and terminate in QDEL, an ER retention signal. In this paper we have investigated the expression of the CHODLΔE/CHODLfΔE protein. This variant localizes in the late endoplasmic reticulum. We detected the protein in spleen and tonsils in a small population of lymphocytes. Moreover, the isoform seems to be differentially expressed in thymocytes and lymphocytes suggesting an important biological function during T cell development.

Key words: CHODLΔE/CHODLfΔE, C-type lectin, T lymphocytes.

^*Corresponding author. Tel.: +32 3 820 2311; fax: +32 3 820 2248.

Received 7 February 2007/6 May 2007; accepted 12 May 2007