ULBP3 explained

UL16 binding protein 3 (ULBP3) is a cell surface glycoprotein encoded by ULBP3 gene located on the chromosome 6.^{[1] [2]} ULBP3 is related to MHC class I molecules, but its gene maps outside the MHC locus. The domain structure of ULBP3 differs significantly from those of conventional MHC class I molecules. It does not contain the α3 domain and the transmembrane segment. ULBP3 is thus composed of only the α1α2 domain which is linked to the cell membrane by the GPI anchor. It functions as a stress-induced ligand for NKG2D receptor.

Further reading

• Cerwenka A, Lanier LL . NKG2D ligands: unconventional MHC class I-like molecules exploited by viruses and cancer . Tissue Antigens . 61 . 5 . 335–43 . May 2003 . 12753652 . 10.1034/j.1399-0039.2003.00070.x .
• Eleme K, Taner SB, Onfelt B, Collinson LM, McCann FE, Chalupny NJ, Cosman D, Hopkins C, Magee AI, Davis DM . Cell surface organization of stress-inducible proteins ULBP and MICA that stimulate human NK cells and T cells via NKG2D . The Journal of Experimental Medicine . 199 . 7 . 1005–10 . Apr 2004 . 15051759 . 2211882 . 10.1084/jem.20032194 .
• Sutherland CL, Chalupny NJ, Schooley K, VandenBos T, Kubin M, Cosman D . UL16-binding proteins, novel MHC class I-related proteins, bind to NKG2D and activate multiple signaling pathways in primary NK cells . Journal of Immunology . 168 . 2 . 671–9 . Jan 2002 . 11777960 . 10.4049/jimmunol.168.2.671 . free .
• Radaev S, Rostro B, Brooks AG, Colonna M, Sun PD . Conformational plasticity revealed by the cocrystal structure of NKG2D and its class I MHC-like ligand ULBP3 . Immunity . 15 . 6 . 1039–49 . Dec 2001 . 11754823 . 10.1016/S1074-7613(01)00241-2 . free .
• Steinle A, Li P, Morris DL, Groh V, Lanier LL, Strong RK, Spies T . Interactions of human NKG2D with its ligands MICA, MICB, and homologs of the mouse RAE-1 protein family . Immunogenetics . 53 . 4 . 279–87 . 2001 . 11491531 . 10.1007/s002510100325 . 33695596 .

Notes and References

1. Cosman D, Müllberg J, Sutherland CL, Chin W, Armitage R, Fanslow W, Kubin M, Chalupny NJ . ULBPs, novel MHC class I-related molecules, bind to CMV glycoprotein UL16 and stimulate NK cytotoxicity through the NKG2D receptor . Immunity . 14 . 2 . 123–33 . Feb 2001 . 11239445 . 10.1016/S1074-7613(01)00095-4 . free .
2. Radosavljevic M, Cuillerier B, Wilson MJ, Clément O, Wicker S, Gilfillan S, Beck S, Trowsdale J, Bahram S . A cluster of ten novel MHC class I related genes on human chromosome 6q24.2-q25.3 . Genomics . 79 . 1 . 114–23 . Jan 2002 . 11827464 . 10.1006/geno.2001.6673 .