Cloning of a novel C-type lectin expressed by murine macrophages

We report the cloning of a novel macrophage-restricted C-type lectin by differential display polymerase chain reaction. This molecule, named mouse macrophage C-type lectin, is a 219-amino acid, type II transmembrane protein with a single extracellular C-type lectin domain. Northern blot analysis indicates that it is expressed in cell lines and normal mouse tissues in a macrophage-restricted manner. The cDNA and genomic sequences of mouse macrophage C-type lectin indicate that it is related to the Group II animal C-type lectins. The mel gene locus has been mapped between the genes for the interleukin-17 receptor and CD4 on mouse chromosome 6, the same chromosome as the mouse natural killer cell gene complex.