Structural variants of human T200 glycoprotein (leukocyte-common antigen)

Structural variation in the primary structure of human T200 glycoprotein has been detected. Three cDNA variants have been characterized each of which encode T200 molecules that differ in size as a result of sequence differences in their amino-terminal regions. The largest form of the molecule is distinguished from the smallest by an insert of 161 amino acids, after the first eight amino-terminal residues. The other variant has an insert at the same location of 47 amino acids identical to residues 75-121 in the larger insert. Both extra domains are rich in serine and threonine residues and are likely to display multiple O-linked oligosaccharides. These structural variants which probably arise by cell-type-specific alternative splicing provide a molecular basis for the previously observed structural and antigenic heterogeneity of T200 glycoprotein. In addition to the variable amino-terminal region, the external domain of human T200 glycoprotein consists of a second cysteine-rich region of about 400 amino acids, a single transmembrane-spanning region and a large cytoplasmic domain of 707 amino acids shared by all of the structural variants and highly conserved between species. The gene encoding human T200 is located on the long arm of chromosome 1.