Mouse Lines

Dectin2 (Clecsf10)

The mouse dectin2 gene encodes dendritic cell-associated C-type lectin 2, a 168-209 amino acid-long type II transmembrane protein. The protein contains a single extracellular carbohydrate recognition domain localized in the NK (natural killer) gene complex in the telomeric region of mouse chromosome 6. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting revealed multiple bands of dectin2 transcripts and proteins, suggesting molecular heterogeneity. In fact, multiple cDNA clones encoding two distinct, truncated dectin2 isoforms were identified. Genomic analyses indicate that a full-length dectin2 transcript (a isoform) is encoded by 6 exons, whereas truncated isoforms (b and g) are produced by alternative splicing.

Gene expression at the mRNA level has been observed mainly in murine dendritic cell lines, but not in macrophage lines, and much lower levels of message and protein have been detected in spleen and thymus, as well as in skin-resident dendritic cells (Langerhans cells).

Based on the genomic structure and the predicted functional domains, a targeting vector was designed where exons 1 to 3 were floxed by cre-recombinase recognition sites, removing the cytoplasmic, trans-membrane and neck domains.