CLEC4M gene

The CLEC4M gene (CLEC4M stands for: C-Type Lectin Domain Family 4 Member M) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 19p13.2. An important paralog of this gene is CD209.

This gene encodes a C-type lectin that is responsible for cell adhesion and recognition of pathogens. This receptor recognizes a broad spectrum of evolutionarily diverse pathogens with major public health implications, including tuberculosis mycobacteria and viruses such as Ebola, hepatitis C, HIV-1, influenza A, West Nile virus and the acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus SARS-CoV. The protein is divided into four different domains: a C-terminal carbohydrate recognition domain, a flexible tandem repeat neck domain of variable length, a transmembrane region and an N-terminal cytoplasmic domain involved in internalization. This gene is closely related in both sequence and function to a neighboring gene, CD209 (Gene ID: 30835, chromosome 19p13.2), also known as DC-SIGN. The two genes differ in viral recognition and expression patterns, with this gene showing high expression in endothelial cells of the liver, lymph nodes and placenta.

Polymorphisms in the tandem repeat neck domain are associated with resistance to SARS infections.

1. Bashirova AA et al. (2001) A dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN)-related protein is highly expressed on human liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and promotes HIV-1 infection. J Exp Med193:671-678.
2. Cormier EG et al. (2004) L-SIGN (CD209L) and DC-SIGN (CD209) mediate transinfection of liver cells by hepatitis C virus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 101:14067-14072.