Allelic variation of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor 2DS5 impacts glycosylation altering cell surface expression levels.

Natural killer cell stimulatory receptor gene, KIR2DS5, is polymorphic. While KIR2DS5*002 is most frequently observed, other alleles have also been found. The proteins encoded by these alleles (KIR2DS5*002-*009) are expressed at varying levels on the surface of NKL and Jurkat transfectants. Gel electrophoresis of all allelic products showed two isoforms which differ in the extent of maturation of N-linked glycosylation. These isoforms differed in intensity and molecular weight among the allelic products. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to identify polymorphic variation at residues 123 and 157 as key in altering glycosylation and levels of surface expression.