ULBP3 [SEP] chromosome
ULBP3
UL16 binding protein 3 (ULBP3) is a cell surface glycoprotein encoded by "ULBP3" gene located on the chromosome 6. 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
proteins: MICs (MICA, MICB) and ULBPs (ULBP1, ULBP2, ULBP3, ULBP4, RAET1G, RAET1L).
Other receptors able to bind induced-self antigens are NKG2C, NKG2E, NKG2F (CD94) or some NCRs (e.g. NKp 46 ).
Tumor targeting.
Practical use of the knowledge of induced-self antigens is in targeting tumors for immune response. As tumors are very often capable of escaping the immune system by many ways, upregulation of specific ligands on the tumor cells could