Multiple modes of binding enhance the affinity of DC-SIGN for high mannose N-linked glycans found on viral glycoproteins

The dendritic cell surface receptor DC-SIGN and the closely related endothelial cell receptor DC-SIGNR specifically recognize high mannose N-linked carbohydrates on viral pathogens. Previous studies have shown that these receptors bind the outer trimannose branch Manalpha1-3[Manalpha1-6]Manalpha present in high mannose structures. Although the trimannoside binds to DC-SIGN or DC-SIGNR more strongly than mannose, additional affinity enhancements are observed in the presence of one or more Manalpha1-2Manalpha moieties on the nonreducing termini of oligomannose structures. The molecular basis of this enhancement has been investigated by determining crystal structures of DC-SIGN bound to a synthetic six-mannose fragment of a high mannose N-linked oligosaccharide, Manalpha1-2Manalpha1-3[Manalpha1-2Manalpha1-6]Manalpha1-6Man and to the disaccharide Manalpha1-2Man. The structures reveal mixtures of two binding modes in each case. Each mode features typical C-type lectin binding at the principal Ca2+-binding site by one mannose residue. In addition, other sugar residues form contacts unique to each binding mode. These results suggest that the affinity enhancement displayed toward oligosaccharides decorated with the Manalpha1-2Manalpha structure is due in part to multiple binding modes at the primary Ca2+ site, which provide both additional contacts and a statistical (entropic) enhancement of binding.     

Extended neck regions stabilize tetramers of the receptors DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR

The human cell surface receptors DC-SIGN (dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-grabbing nonintegrin) and DC-SIGNR (DC-SIGN-related) bind to oligosaccharide ligands found on human tissues as well as on pathogens including viruses, bacteria, and parasites. The extracellular portion of each receptor contains a membrane-distal carbohydrate-recognition domain (CRD) and forms tetramers stabilized by an extended neck region consisting of 23 amino acid repeats. Cross-linking analysis of full-length receptors expressed in fibroblasts confirms the tetrameric state of the intact receptors. Hydrodynamic studies on truncated receptors demonstrate that the portion of the neck of each protein adjacent to the CRD is sufficient to mediate the formation of dimers, whereas regions near the N terminus are needed to stabilize the tetramers. Some of the intervening repeats are missing from polymorphic forms of DC-SIGNR. Two different crystal forms of truncated DC-SIGNR comprising two neck repeats and the CRD reveal that the CRDs are flexibly linked to the neck, which contains alpha-helical segments interspersed with non-helical regions. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements indicate that the neck and CRDs are independently folded domains. Based on the crystal structures and hydrodynamic data, models for the full extracellular domains of the receptors have been generated. The observed flexibility of the CRDs in the tetramer, combined with previous data on the specificity of these receptors, suggests an important role for oligomerization in the recognition of endogenous glycans, in particular those present on the surfaces of enveloped viruses recognized by these proteins.     

Segmented Helical Structure of the Neck Region of the Glycan-Binding Receptor DC-SIGNR

Carbohydrate-recognition domains (CRDs) in the glycan-binding receptors DC-SIGN (dendritic-cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 1-grabbing nonintegrin; CD209) and DC-SIGNR (DC-SIGN-related receptor, also known as L-SIGN and variously designated CD209L and CD299) are projected from the membrane surface by extended neck domains containing multiple repeats of a largely conserved 23-amino-acid sequence motif. Crystals of a fragment of the neck domain of DC-SIGNR containing multiple repeats in which each molecule extends through multiple unit cells, such that the observed crystallographic asymmetric unit represents one repeat averaged over six repeats of the protein, have been obtained. The repeats are largely α-helical. Based on the structure and arrangement of the repeats in the crystal, the neck region can be described as a series of four-helix bundles connected by short, non-helical linkers. Combining the structure of the isolated neck domain with a previously determined overlapping structure of the distal end of the neck region with the CRDs attached provides a model of the almost-complete extracellular portion of the receptor. The results are consistent with previous characterization of the extended structure for the isolated neck region and the extracellular domain. The organization of the neck suggests how CRDs may be disposed differently in DC-SIGN compared with DC-SIGNR and in variant forms of DC-SIGNR assembled from polypeptides with different numbers of repeats in the neck domain.     

Autonomous Tetramerization Domains in the Glycan-binding Receptors DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR

Multivalent binding of glycans on pathogens and on mammalian cells by the receptors DC-SIGN (CD209) and DC-SIGNR (L-SIGN, CD299) is dependent on correct disposition of the C-type carbohydrate-recognition domains projected at the C-terminal ends of necks at the cell surface. In the work reported here, neck domains of DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR expressed in isolation are shown to form tetramers in the absence of the CRDs. Stability analysis indicates that interactions between the neck domains account fully for the stability of the tetrameric extracellular portions of the receptors. The neck domains are approximately 40% α-helical based on circular dichroism analysis. However, in contrast to other glycan-binding receptors in which fully helical neck regions are intimately associated with C-terminal C-type CRDs, the neck domains in DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR act as autonomous tetramerization domains and the neck domains and CRDs are organized independently. Neck domains from polymorphic forms of DC-SIGNR that lack some of the repeat sequences show modestly reduced stability, but differences near the C-terminal end of the neck domains lead to significantly enhanced stability of DC-SIGNR tetramers compared to DC-SIGN.     

Characterization of DC-SIGN/R interaction with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp120 and ICAM molecules favors the receptor's role as an antigen-capturing rather than an adhesion receptor

The dendritic cell (DC)-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3 (ICAM-3)-grabbing nonintegrin binding receptor (DC-SIGN) was shown to bind human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) viral envelope protein gp120 and proposed to function as a Trojan horse to enhance trans-virus infection to host T cells. To better understand the mechanism by which DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR selectively bind HIV-1 gp120, we constructed a series of deletion mutations in the repeat regions of both receptors. Different truncated receptors exist in different oligomeric forms. The carbohydrate binding domain without any repeats was monomeric, whereas the full extracellular receptors existed as tetramers. All reconstituted receptors retained their ability to bind gp120. The dissociation constant, however, differed drastically from micromolar values for the monomeric receptors to nanomolar values for the tetrameric receptors, suggesting that the repeat region of these receptors contributes to the avidity of gp120 binding. Such oligomerization may provide a mechanism for the receptor to selectively recognize pathogens containing multiple high-mannose-concentration carbohydrates. In contrast, the receptors bound to ICAMs with submicromolar affinities that are similar to those of two nonspecific cell surface glycoproteins, FcgammaRIIb and FcgammaRIII, and the oligomerization of DC-SIGNR resulted in no increase in binding affinity to ICAM-3. These findings suggest that DC-SIGN may not discriminate other cell surface glycoproteins from ICAM-3 binding. The pH dependence in DC-SIGN binding to gp120 showed that the receptor retained high-affinity gp120 binding at neutral pH but lost gp120 binding at pH 5, suggesting a release mechanism of HIV in the acidic endosomal compartment by DC-SIGN. Our work contradicts the function of DC-SIGN as a Trojan horse to facilitate HIV-1 infection; rather, it supports the function of DC-SIGN/R (a designation referring to both DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR) as an antigen-capturing receptor.     

Structural basis for distinct ligand-binding and targeting properties of the receptors DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR

Both the dendritic cell receptor DC-SIGN and the closely related endothelial cell receptor DC-SIGNR bind human immunodeficiency virus and enhance infection. However, biochemical and structural comparison of these receptors now reveals that they have very different physiological functions. By screening an extensive glycan array, we demonstrated that DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR have distinct ligand-binding properties. Our structural and mutagenesis data explain how both receptors bind high-mannose oligosaccharides on enveloped viruses and why only DC-SIGN binds blood group antigens, including those present on microorganisms. DC-SIGN mediates endocytosis, trafficking as a recycling receptor and releasing ligand at endosomal pH, whereas DC-SIGNR does not release ligand at low pH or mediate endocytosis. Thus, whereas DC-SIGN has dual ligand-binding properties and functions both in adhesion and in endocytosis of pathogens, DC-SIGNR binds a restricted set of ligands and has only the properties of an adhesion receptor.     

Contribution to ligand binding by multiple carbohydrate-recognition domains in the macrophage mannose receptor.

The extracellular portion of the macrophage mannose receptor is composed of several cysteine-rich domains, including a fibronectin type II repeat and eight segments related in sequence to Ca(2+)-dependent carbohydrate-recognition domains (CRDs) of animal lectins. Expression of portions of the receptor in vitro, in fibroblasts and in bacteria, has been used to determine which of the extracellular domains are involved in binding and endocytosis of ligand. The NH2-terminal cysteine-rich domain and the fibronectin type II repeat are not necessary for endocytosis of mannose-terminated glycoproteins. CRDs 1-3 have at most very weak affinity for carbohydrate, so the carbohydrate binding activity of the receptor resides in CRDs 4-8. CRD 4 shows the highest affinity binding and has multispecificity for a variety of monosaccharides. However, CRD 4 alone cannot account for the binding of the receptor to glycoproteins. At least 3 CRDs (4, 5, and 7) are required for high affinity binding and endocytosis of multivalent glycoconjugates. In this respect, the mannose receptor is like other carbohydrate-binding proteins, in which several CRDs, each with weak affinity for single sugars, are clustered to achieve high affinity binding to oligosaccharides. In the mannose receptor, these multiple weak interactions are achieved through several active CRDs in a single polypeptide chain rather than by oligomerization of polypeptides each containing a single CRD.     

Geometry and adhesion of extracellular domains of DC-SIGNR neck length variants analyzed by force-distance measurements

Force-distance measurements have been used to examine differences in the interaction of the dendritic cell glycan-binding receptor DC-SIGN and the closely related endothelial cell receptor DC-SIGNR (L-SIGN) with membranes bearing glycan ligands. The results demonstrate that upon binding to membrane-anchored ligand, DC-SIGNR undergoes a conformational change similar to that previously observed for DC-SIGN. The results also validate a model for the extracellular domain of DC-SIGNR derived from crystallographic studies. Force measurements were performed with DC-SIGNR variants that differ in the length of the neck that result from genetic polymorphisms, which encode different numbers of the 23-amino acid repeat sequences that constitute the neck. The findings are consistent with an elongated, relatively rigid structure of the neck repeat observed in crystals. In addition, differences in the lengths of DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR extracellular domains with equivalent numbers of neck repeats support a model in which the different dispositions of the carbohydrate-recognition domains in DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR result from variations in the sequences of the necks.     

Widely divergent biochemical properties of the complete set of mouse DC-SIGN-related proteins

The mouse genome sequence has been examined to identify the complete set of proteins related to the human glycanbinding receptor, DC-SIGN. In addition to five SIGNR proteins previously described, a pseudogene, encoding a hypothetical SIGNR6, and a further two expressed proteins, SIGNR7 and SIGNR8, have been identified. The ligand-binding properties of these novel proteins and of the previously described mouse SIGNs have been systematically investigated in order to define the mouse proteins that most resemble human DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR. Results from screening of a glycan array demonstrate that only mouse SIGNR3 shares with human DC-SIGN the ability to bind both high mannose and fucose-terminated glycans in this format and to mediate endocytosis. The finding that neither SIGNR1 nor SIGNR5 binds with high affinity to specific ligands in a large panel of mammalian glycans is consistent with the suggestion that these receptors bind surface polysaccharides on bacterial and fungal pathogens in a manner analogous to serum mannose-binding protein. The data also reveal that two of the mouse SIGNs have unusual binding specificities that have not been previously described for members of the C-type lectin family; the newly identified SIGNR7 binds preferentially to the 6-sulfo-sialyl Lewis(x) oligosaccharide, whereas SIGNR2 binds almost exclusively to glycans that bear terminal GlcNAc residues. The results presented demonstrate that the mouse homologs of DC-SIGN have a diverse set of ligand-binding and intracellular trafficking properties, some of which are distinct from the properties of any of the human receptors.     

Binding of phosphorylated oligosaccharides to immobilized phosphomannosyl receptors

We have purified phosphomannosyl-enzyme receptors from bovine liver on an affinity column composed of glycoproteins isolated from Dictyostelium discoideum secretions. Binding of human fibroblast beta-hexosaminidase B to receptors reconstituted into phosphatidylcholine liposomes was 1) specifically inhibited by mannose 6-phosphate, but not mannose 1-phosphate or glucose 6-phosphate, and 2) had properties similar to the previously reported binding of enzyme to receptors on cell surfaces and isolated membranes. In order to determine the structural features of the phosphomannosyl recognition marker required for receptor recognition, we covalently coupled purified receptor to an agarose gel bead support for affinity chromatography of phosphorylated, high mannose-type oligosaccharides isolated from fibroblast secretions radiolabeled with [2-3H]mannose. Neutral oligosaccharides and oligosaccharides containing one or two phosphates in phosphodiester linkage were not retained by the receptor column. By contrast, oligosaccharides bearing one phosphomonoester moiety were retarded on the column; those bearing two phosphomonoesters were bound to the column and were eluted with 10 mM mannose 6-phosphate. The binding of the oligosaccharides to the immobilized receptor correlates with their ability to be pinocytosed by fibroblasts and shows that the preferred recognition marker for the phosphomannosyl-enzyme receptor is a high mannose-type oligosaccharide chain bearing two uncovered phosphomannosyl groups.     

Characterization of carbohydrate recognition by langerin,a C-type lectin of Langerhans cells

Langerin is a type II transmembrane cell surface receptor found on Langerhans cells. The extracellular domain of langerin consists of a neck region containing a series of heptad repeats and a C-terminal C-type carbohydrate-recognition domain (CRD). A role for langerin in processing of glycoprotein antigens has been proposed, but until now there has been little study of the langerin protein. In this study, analytical ultracentrifugation and circular dichroism spectroscopy of recombinant soluble fragments of human langerin have been used to show that the extracellular region of this receptor exists as a stable trimer held together by a coiled coil of alpha-helices formed by the neck region. The langerin CRD shows specificity for mannose, GlcNAc, and fucose, but only the trimeric extracellular domain fragment binds to glycoprotein ligands. Langerin extracellular domain binds mammalian high mannose oligosaccharides, as well mannose-containing structures on yeast invertase but does not bind complex glycan structures. Full-length langerin stably expressed in rat fibroblast transfectants mediates efficient uptake and degradation of a mannosylated neoglycoprotein ligand. pH-dependent ligand release appears to involve interactions between the CRDs or between the CRDs and the neck region in the trimer. The results are consistent with a role for langerin in internalization of both self and nonself glycoprotein antigens.     

Recognition of Dictyostelium discoideum lysosomal enzymes is conferred by the amino-terminal carbohydrate binding site of the insulin-like growth factor II/mannose 6-phosphate receptor

The insulin-like growth factor-II/mannose 6-phosphate receptor (IGF-II/MPR) is a type I glycoprotein that mediates both the intracellular sorting of lysosomal enzymes bearing mannose 6-phosphate (Man-6-P) residues to the lysosome and the bioavailability of IGF-II. The extracytoplasmic region of the IGF-II/MPR contains 15 repeating domains; the two carbohydrate recognition domains (CRDs) have been localized to domains 1-3 and 7-9, and the high-affinity IGF-II binding site maps to domain 11. To characterize the carbohydrate binding properties of the IGF-II/MPR, regions of the receptor encompassing the individual CRDs were produced in a baculovirus expression system. Characterization of the recombinant proteins revealed that the pH optimum for carbohydrate binding is significantly more acidic for the carboxyl-terminal CRD than for the amino-terminal CRD (i.e., pH 6.4-6.5 vs 6.9). Equilibrium binding studies demonstrated that the two CRDs exhibit a similar affinity for Man-6-P. Furthermore, substitution of the conserved arginine residue in domain 3 (R435) or in domain 9 (R1334) with alanine resulted in a similar >1000-fold decrease in the affinity for the lysosomal enzyme, beta-glucuronidase. In contrast, the two CRDs differ dramatically in their ability to recognize the distinctive modifications (i.e., mannose 6-sulfate and Man-6-P methyl ester) found on Dictyostelium discoideum lysosomal enzymes: the amino-terminal CRD binds mannose 6-sulfate and Man-6-P methyl ester with a 14-55-fold higher affinity than the carboxyl-terminal CRD. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the IGF-II/MPR contains two functionally distinct CRDs.     

Proteomic analysis of DC-SIGN on dendritic cells detects tetramers required for ligand binding but no association with CD4

DC-SIGN (dendritic cell specific intracellular adhesion molecule 3 grabbing non-integrin) or CD209 is a type II transmembrane protein and one of several C-type lectin receptors expressed by dendritic cell subsets, which bind to high mannose glycoproteins promoting their endocytosis and potential degradation. DC-SIGN also mediates attachment of HIV to dendritic cells and binding to this receptor can subsequently lead to endocytosis or enhancement of CD4/CCR5-dependent infection. The latter was proposed to be facilitated by an interaction between DC-SIGN and CD4. Endocytosis of HIV virions does not necessarily lead to their complete degradation. A proportion of the virions remain infective and can be later presented to T cells mediating their infection in trans. Previously, the extracellular domain of recombinant DC-SIGN has been shown to assemble as tetramers and in the current study we use a short range covalent cross-linker and show that DC-SIGN exists as tetramers on the surface of immature monocyte-derived dendritic cells. There was no evidence of direct binding between DC-SIGN and CD4 either by cross-linking or by fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurements suggesting that there is no constitutive association of the majority of these proteins in the membrane. Importantly we also show that the tetrameric complexes, in contrast to DC-SIGN monomers, bind with high affinity to high mannose glycoproteins such as mannan or HIV gp120 suggesting that such an assembly is required for high affinity binding of glycoproteins to DC-SIGN, providing the first direct evidence that DC-SIGN tetramers are essential for high affinity interactions with pathogens like HIV.     

The structure of DC-SIGNR with a portion of its repeat domain lends insights to modeling of the receptor tetramer

The dendritic cell-specific ICAM-3 non-integrin (DC-SIGN) and its close relative DC-SIGNR recognize various glycoproteins, both pathogenic and cellular, through the receptor lectin domain-mediated carbohydrate recognition. While the carbohydrate-recognition domains (CRD) exist as monomers and bind individual carbohydrates with low affinity and are permissive in nature, the full-length receptors form tetramers through their repeat domain and recognize specific ligands with high affinity. To understand the tetramer-based ligand binding avidity, we determined the crystal structure of DC-SIGNR with its last repeat region. Compared to the carbohydrate-bound CRD structure, the structure revealed conformational changes in the calcium and carbohydrate coordination loops of CRD, an additional disulfide bond between the N and the C termini of the CRD, and a helical conformation for the last repeat. On the basis of the current crystal structure and other published structures with sequence homology to the repeat domain, we generated a tetramer model for DC-SIGN/R using homology modeling and propose a ligand-recognition index to identify potential receptor ligands.     

Hepatitis C virus glycoproteins interact with DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR

DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR are two closely related membrane-associated C-type lectins that bind human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope glycoprotein with high affinity. Binding of HIV to cells expressing DC-SIGN or DC-SIGNR can enhance the efficiency of infection of cells coexpressing the specific HIV receptors. DC-SIGN is expressed on some dendritic cells, while DC-SIGNR is localized to certain endothelial cell populations, including hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells. We found that soluble versions of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 glycoprotein and retrovirus pseudotypes expressing chimeric forms of both HCV E1 and E2 glycoproteins bound efficiently to DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR expressed on cell lines and primary human endothelial cells but not to other C-type lectins tested. Soluble E2 bound to immature and mature human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDCs). Binding of E2 to immature MDDCs was dependent on DC-SIGN interactions, while binding to mature MDDCs was partly independent of DC-SIGN, suggesting that other cell surface molecules may mediate HCV glycoprotein interactions. HCV interactions with DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR may contribute to the establishment or persistence of infection both by the capture and delivery of virus to the liver and by modulating dendritic cell function.     

An extended conformation of the macrophage mannose receptor

The macrophage mannose receptor mediates phagocytosis of pathogenic microorganisms and endocytosis of potentially harmful soluble glycoproteins by recognition of their defining carbohydrate structures. The mannose receptor is the prototype for a family of receptors each having an extracellular region consisting of 8-10 domains related to C-type carbohydrate recognition domains (CRDs), a fibronectin type II repeat and an N-terminal cysteine-rich domain. Hydrodynamic analysis and proteolysis experiments performed on fragments of the extracellular region of the receptor have been used to investigate its conformation. Size and shape parameters derived from sedimentation and diffusion coefficients indicate that the receptor is a monomeric, elongated and asymmetric molecule. Proteolysis experiments indicate the presence of close contacts between several pairs of domains and exposed linker regions separating CRDs 3 and 6 from their neighboring domains. Hydrodynamic coefficients predicted for modeled receptor conformations are consistent with an extended conformation with close contacts between three pairs of CRDs. The N-terminal cysteine-rich domain and the fibronectin type II repeat appear to increase the rigidity of the molecule. The rigid, extended conformation of the receptor places domains with different functions at distinct positions with respect to the membrane.     

Selective binding of the scavenger receptor C-type lectin to Lewisx trisaccharide and related glycan ligands

The scavenger receptor C-type lectin (SRCL) is an endothelial receptor that is similar in organization to type A scavenger receptors for modified low density lipoproteins but contains a C-type carbohydrate-recognition domain (CRD). Fragments of the receptor consisting of the entire extracellular domain and the CRD have been expressed and characterized. The extracellular domain is a trimer held together by collagen-like and coiled-coil domains adjacent to the CRD. The amino acid sequence of the CRD is very similar to the CRD of the asialoglycoprotein receptor and other galactose-specific receptors, but SRCL binds selectively to asialo-orosomucoid rather than generally to asialoglycoproteins. Screening of a glycan array and further quantitative binding studies indicate that this selectivity results from high affinity binding to glycans bearing the Lewis(x) trisaccharide. Thus, SRCL shares with the dendritic cell receptor DC-SIGN the ability to bind the Lewis(x) epitope. However, it does so in a fundamentally different way, making a primary binding interaction with the galactose moiety of the glycan rather than the fucose residue. SRCL shares with the asialoglycoprotein receptor the ability to mediate endocytosis and degradation of glycoprotein ligands. These studies suggest that SRCL might be involved in selective clearance of specific desialylated glycoproteins from circulation and/or interaction of cells bearing Lewis(x)-type structures with the vascular endothelium.     

Survey of immune-related, mannose/fucose-binding C-type lectin receptors reveals widely divergent sugar-binding specificities

C-type lectins (CTLs) are proteins that contain one or more carbohydrate-recognition domains (CRDs) that require calcium for sugar binding and share high degree of sequence homology and tertiary structure. CTLs whose CRD contain EPN (Glu-Pro-Asn) tripeptide motifs have potential to bind mannose (Man), N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), glucose (Glc) and l-fucose (Fuc), whereas those with QPD (Glu-Pro-Asp) tripeptide motifs bind galactose (Gal) and N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc). We report here for the first time a direct comparison of monosaccharide (and some di- and trisaccharides)-binding characteristics of 11 EPX-containing (X = N, S or D) immune-related CTLs using a competition assay and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and neoglycoproteins as ligand. The EPX CTLs studied are DC-SIGN, L-SIGN, mSIGNR1, human and mouse mannose receptors, Langerin, BDCA-2, DCIR, dectin-2, MCL and MINCLE. We found that: (1) they all bound Man and Fuc; (2) binding of Glc and GlcNAc varied considerably among these lectins, but was always less than Man and Fuc; (3) in general, Gal and GalNAc were not bound. However, dectin-2, DCIR and MINCLE showed ability to bind Gal/GalNAc; (4) DC-SIGN, L-SIGN, mSIGNR1 and Langerin showed enhanced binding of Manα2Man over Man, whereas all others showed no enhancement; (5) DC-SIGN bound Le(x) trisaccharide structure, which has terminal Gal and Fuc residues, more avidly than Fuc, whereas L-SIGN, mSIGNR1, DCIR and MINCLE bound Le(x) less avidly than Fuc. BDCA-2, dectin-2, Langerin, MCL and mannose receptor did not bind Le(x) at all.     

DC-SIGN; a related gene, DC-SIGNR; and CD23 form a cluster on 19p13

DC-SIGN is a C-type lectin, expressed on a dendritic cell subset. It is able to bind ICAM3 and HIV gp120 in a calcium-dependent manner. Here we report the genomic organization of DC-SIGN and map it to chromosome 19p13 adjacent to the C-type lectin CD23 (FcepsilonRII). We also report a novel, closely linked gene, DC-SIGNR, which shows 73% identity to DC-SIGN at the nucleic acid level and a similar genomic organization. Proteins encoded by both genes have tracts of repeats of 23 aa, predicted to form a coiled coil neck region. They also possess motifs that are known to bind mannose in a calcium-dependent fashion. We show concomitant expression of the two genes in endometrium, placenta, and stimulated KG1 cells (phenotypically similar to monocyte-derived dendritic cells). The existence of a DC-SIGN-related gene calls for reinterpretation of the HIV data to consider possible DC-SIGN/DC-SIGNR hetero-oligomerization.     

Structural basis for recognition of phosphorylated high mannose oligosaccharides by the cation-dependent mannose 6-phosphate receptor.

Mannose 6-phosphate receptors (MPRs) play an important role in the targeting of newly synthesized soluble acid hydrolases to the lysosome in higher eukaryotic cells. These acid hydrolases carry mannose 6-phosphate recognition markers on their N-linked oligosaccharides that are recognized by two distinct MPRs: the cation-dependent mannose 6-phosphate receptor and the insulin-like growth factor II/cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor. Although much has been learned about the MPRs, it is unclear how these receptors interact with the highly diverse population of lysosomal enzymes. It is known that the terminal mannose 6-phosphate is essential for receptor binding. However, the results from several studies using synthetic oligosaccharides indicate that the binding site encompasses at least two sugars of the oligosaccharide. We now report the structure of the soluble extracytoplasmic domain of a glycosylation-deficient form of the bovine cation-dependent mannose 6-phosphate receptor complexed to pentamannosyl phosphate. This construct consists of the amino-terminal 154 amino acids (excluding the signal sequence) with glutamine substituted for asparagine at positions 31, 57, 68, and 87. The binding site of the receptor encompasses the phosphate group plus three of the five mannose rings of pentamannosyl phosphate. Receptor specificity for mannose arises from protein contacts with the 2-hydroxyl on the terminal mannose ring adjacent to the phosphate group. Glycosidic linkage preference originates from the minimization of unfavorable interactions between the ligand and receptor.