C-Type Lectin Domain Family 3, Member A (CLEC3A)

CLEC3A has a signal peptide, an N-terminal domain of coiled-coil alpha helices predicted to mediate trimer formation, residues involved in calcium chelation, and 6 conserved cysteines. Northern blot analysis detected a CLEC3A transcript of about 2 kb only in human fetal, calf, and adult bovine articular cartilage and in cultured fetal and calf chondrocytes. In fetal rib growth plate, highest expression was detected in the upper hypertrophic and proliferating zones.CLEC3A was expressed in normal human breast, but not in any other normal human tissue examined. CLEC3A was expressed in breast cancer tissue, all breast cancer cell lines examined, and some colon cancer cell lines. Western blot analysis of transfected human cell lines showed a 20-kD CLEC3A protein in lysed cells, the culture medium, and extracellular matrix.