Characterization of cDNA and the genomic sequence encoding canine neural-cell adhesion molecule, CD56/N-CAM

The neural-cell adhesion molecule, CD56/N-CAM is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily expressed by various tissues and cells, including natural killer (NK) cells. Despite the importance of CD56 as a marker for identifying NK cells in circulating blood, canine CD56 has not been identified. In the present study, we identified the canine counterparts of the 140-kDa (CD56-140) and 120-kDa (CD56-120) isoforms of human DC56. Both of amino acid sequences encoded by the canine CD56-140 and -120 cDNA showed high homology with those of human (both 96% homology), having well-conserved domains (five immunoglobulin, two fibronectin type III, and transmembrane and intracelluer or glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked domain) among various species (human, mouse, and feline). We revealed that the transcripts of canine CD56-140 and -120 arise from alternative mRNA splicing from a single gene located on canine chromosome 5. Moreover, the mRNA encoding canine CD56-140 was expressed at high levels constitutively by nervous system and endocrine tissues as has shown in other animals.