Killer Cell Immunoglobulin Like Receptor 2DL5 (KIR2DL5)

KIR2DL5 encodes a deduced 375-amino acid protein that shares 79% sequence identity with KIR2DL4. It is structurally similar to KIR2DL4 in its Ig domains, but contains no charged residue in its transmembrane domain and has 2 rather than 1 ITIM in its cytoplasmic tail. Whereas KIR2DL4 is ubiquitously expressed in NK cell lines, KIR2DL5, like other KIRs, is expressed in relatively few lines. Sequence analysis showed that most KIR2DL5 clones do not contain all 8 exons, suggesting alternative splicing. KIR2DL5 (CD158f) is the last identified KIR gene and, with KIR2DL4, constitutes a structurally divergent lineage conserved in different primate species. Research on KIR2DL5 has thus far been limited to its genetic aspects due to a lack of reagents to detect its product.