C-Type Lectin Domain Family 4, Member C (CLEC4C)

CLEC4C is a dendritic cell marker.By searching for sequences similar to mouse Nkcl, Fernandes et al. (2000) identified an EST clone isolated from a testis cDNA library that contained the full-length coding sequence for CLECSF11, which they designated HECL. The deduced 183-amino acid protein has a calculated molecular mass of 20 kD and contains a C-type carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) and 3 putative N-glycosylation sites, but no transmembrane domain or signal peptide. HECL shares significant homology with members of the C-type lectin superfamily, and its CRD is mose similar to that of mouse Nkcl. The 4 cysteines responsible for the C-type CRD fold are perfectly conserved between HECL and mouse Nkcl. Immunolocalization of epitope-tagged HECL expressed in COS cells revealed a cytoplasmic localization.