The structure of avian CD5 implies a conserved function

The chicken CD5 cDNA was isolated by COS cell expression cloning utilizing a novel mAb 2-191. The cDNA contains a 1422-nucleotide open reading frame encoding a mature protein with 32% and 30% identity to mouse and human CD5 polypeptides, respectively. The molecule consists of a 330-amino acid extracellular region with three repeats of the scavenger receptor cysteine-rich domain, a 29-amino acid hydrophobic transmembrane domain, and a 93-amino acid cytoplasmic tail. The cytoplasmic region contains motifs that are highly conserved between species, including several potential phosphorylation sites. The chicken CD5 is a 64-kDa phosphorylated glycoprotein with a protein core of 57 kDa as determined by immunoprecipitation and SDS-PAGE analysis. Alphabeta T cells express a homogeneously high level of CD5, whereas low or intermediate CD5 expression on gammadelta T cells depends on their tissue location. In contrast to human and mouse, CD5 is found at low levels on all chicken B cells. The high conservation of structural features, as well as signaling motifs, implies a conserved role for CD5 both in lymphocyte development and function.