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 ligand for NKG2D receptor.
123Radosavljevic M, Cuillerier B, Wilson MJ, Clément O, Wicker S, Gilfillan S, Beck S, Trowsdale J, Bahram S (Jan 2002). "A cluster of ten novel MHC class I related genes on human chromosome 6q24.2-q25.3". Genomics. 79 (1): 114–23. doi:10.1006/geno.2001.6673. PMID11827464.
Further reading
Cerwenka A, Lanier LL (May 2003). "NKG2D ligands: unconventional MHC class I-like molecules exploited by viruses and cancer". Tissue Antigens. 61 (5): 335–43. doi:10.1034/j.1399-0039.2003.00070.x. PMID12753652.
Steinle A, Li P, Morris DL, Groh V, Lanier LL, Strong RK, Spies T (2001). "Interactions of human NKG2D with its ligands MICA, MICB, and homologs of the mouse RAE-1 protein family". Immunogenetics. 53 (4): 279–87. doi:10.1007/s002510100325. PMID11491531. S2CID33695596.