CLONING OF NKG2-F, A NEW MEMBER OF THE NKG2 FAMILY OF HUMAN NATURAL-KILLER-CELL RECEPTOR GENES

The NKG2 family of genes encodes at least four different type II trans membrane molecules (NKG2-A, NKG2-B, NKG2-C and NKG2-E) which contain a C-lectin domain. These proteins have been shown to be covalently asso ciated with CD94, another C-type lectin member. The heterodimers are i nvolved in natural killer cell-mediated recognition of different HLA-a llotypes. Here we describe the cloning of a new NKG2-related gene, ter med NKG2-F, localized 25 kb from NKG2-A as well as its relationship wi th the previously described NKG2-D cDNA. Despite the similarities with the other NKG2 genes, NKG2-F encodes a putative protein which does no t contain any lectin domain. However, a conserved 24-amino acid sequen ce, present in all members of the NKG2 family, suggests that NKG2-F is also able to form heterodimers with CD94.